Help Make The World A Better Place

Help these Children! 

   This video really moved me.  I know this doesn't have to do with artificial colors, but it does have to do with children.  They need all of us to help them to have a better life.  You can help by spreading awareness.  Click on the Share link below to post to your Facebook page, Twitter, or other social media.  

Ban Artificial Synthetic Dyes in the United States

    Artificial Food Colorings are made of Petroleum.  Sounds good right?  Brightly colored foods and foods that wouldn't need artificial colors are being marketed to Americans in enormous amounts and certainly over the recommended limits set by the FDA - because collectively these dyes are found in so many items, bakery, pickles, drinks, foods, pharmaceuticals, shampoos, soaps, make-up and sprayed on fruits....etc.  Are they harmful?  You bet!  They have been known to cause hyperactivity, allergic reactions, migraines, stomach aches, depression, and even Cancer!   This is becoming common knowledge, yet the majority of companies refuse to use natural ingredients because it is not as profitable.   Companies like Whole Foods Market that have higher standards, refuse to sell products with artificial colors.
    America needs to step up and ban these artificial colors.  The United Kingdom has banned them after learning that artificial colors can cause hyperactivity in children.  Many other countries have banned them as well.  While profit and greed are the motivating factors for these artificial colors to remain in the U.S., we need to carefully read labels and buy foods that do not contain these harmful ingredients.  We can not rely on companies who label their products as nutritious to really care about our well being.  For example, Nestle' has just removed all artificial colors and ingredients from their confectionery ingredients from their UK products but have left all of the artificial stuff for the United States.  Why?  Because we are still buying their crap.  The only way a company is going to change is if they have high moral standards and regard for health, or their profit is diminishing and they see a trend.
    Our family hasn't bought foods with artificial colors since 2009 and we are able to always find alternatives.  Watch out for your health and your family's by buying foods that are dye-free.  Let's make a difference in America.

The following is a list of links about the latest News and Postings about Artificial Colors:    

Avoiding Artificial Food Dyes - Why and How?

It's Time To Say No To Artificial Food Dyes

Synthetic Food Dyes Raising Health Concerns Among Doctors and Parents

FDA Approved Food Coloring - What You Are Really Eating

Kids Health and Nutrition - Coles Bans Added MSG and Artificial Colors

Food Dyes and Your Health

Nestle' Removes All Artificial Ingredients from All Confectionery Ingredients in the UK

Testimonials of Red Dye Free Blog Readers

This post is dedicated to all readers of Red Dye Free.  Here is a chance to tell others how learning about artificial colors has helped someone in your family.  Please leave a comment if you have something to share.  :)

Dye Free Candy for Holiday Shopping (or everyday)!

If you are looking to buy dye-free candy for your holiday shopping check out The Natural Candy Store:  http://naturalcandystore.com/?a=cvGx2Z




They have everything from dye-free candy canes to chocolate Santas!  They also have an alternative to M and M's !!!

The Truth about Artificial Colors

    Recently I received a comment from one of my readers, Ms. Kim.  She wrote a testimonial of how she learned about artificial color sensitivity  by seeing a difference in her son after he ate foods with synthetic artificial colors.  She was, like many people, taught or believed that parents were just using artificial colors as an excuse for poor parenting.  However, she learned through keeping a careful journal of the foods her son was eating that artificial colors was the cause of his worst behavior and how removing the dyes from his diet eliminated the symptoms immediately.  To read more click on the link below.
http://reddyefree.blogspot.com/2010/02/is-your-child-out-of-control.html?showComment=1322770656145#c3467337198792711855
    The CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) says the following, "There are also health reasons to be concerned about artificial colorings. The FDA has acknowledged that artificial food dyes, such as Red 40 and Yellow 5, trigger hyperactivity and behavioral problems in some children. CSPI has also highlighted the cancer risks associated with certain caramel colorings, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, which are contaminated with carcinogens. In addition, some consumers are allergic to natural or synthetic color additives."  ( http://www.cspinet.org/new/201112081.html)  Please click on link to read more about artificial colors and how they decieve consumers.

Welch's 100% Juice is Not 100% Juice
Look at the ingredient label on the back.  It lists Red Dye 40 as one of the ingredients!  Why would you need to color real juice? 

Can you find Red 40 (Color) on the back of Welch's Ingredient List?

Apple & Eve Fruit Smarts has real ingredients and it is just as colorful!  The difference is that you are not drinking a synthetic artificial food dye.  This is the real deal. 

This is what I love to see:
Pledge of Purity:  This product is made with pure fruit juices.  There are no added sugars, preservatives, or artificial colors. 

Was there ever a day when juice was just juice?  Why do we have to, as consumers, watch out for dirty little tricks....like adding artificial colors to foods, drinks, beauty products, prescription drugs, over the counter medicines, and even health supplements.   The truth......
Money.  Colorful items sell and are cheaply made.  Don't be fooled into thinking or defending artificial colors - the majority in the food and drug industry would like you to believe they are important and necessary because it saves them money. 

Take a look at the Candy Canes in the Whole Foods Market made by tru sweets. They are colored with natural colors and SURPRISE - they look just as good!












Pure Fun Organic Candy Canes 
They look bright and yummy just like the Red Dye 40 colored ones without the harmful ingredients.

MYTH:  Without artificial colors, we would not have brightly colored foods.
TRUTH:  Natural food colors can be used as a healthy alternative.

MYTH:  Parents use artificial colors as an excuse for poor parenting.
TRUTH:  Artificial Synthetic Colors can cause behavioral problems in children and even adults who have a sensitivity to the dyes.

MYTH:  Artificial Colors are not harmful to the general public and FDA makes sure that we are not getting more than the recommended amounts of these dyes.
TRUTH:  Because artificial colors are now used in almost everything to make products either more appealing or to reduce production costs, there is no way of regulating how much of these dyes are being consumed by the consumer.  It is possible to get well over the recommended allowances for these artificial dyes.  CSPI has also highlighted the cancer risks associated with certain caramel colorings, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, which are contaminated with carcinogens.
Artificial dyes can cause other health problems in some individuals:  hives, stomach aches, headaches, migraines, behavioral problems, depression, and aggression. 

MYTH:  Individuals who are sensitive to the dyes won't show reaction to just a little bit of artificial colors.
TRUTH:  Even a small amount has shown to cause behavioral problems in individuals sensitive to the dyes. 

    Today, more and more doctors are becoming aware and alerted to the harmful risks of artificial colors, whereas as early as 2009 they were still following the advice of the FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics leaving parents like myself frustrated at the lack of scientific data to tell us what we already knew - artificial colors can create behavioral problems in children who are sensitive to the dyes.  It is a relief to see the change of awareness and hopefully the finger pointing on improper parenting will come to an end on this issue. 
   
    Today there are more products than ever that label their products with "No Artificial Colors."  The consumer demand is creating a push to more healthier foods.  It is a misconception that consumers have that foods need these synthetic artificial petroleum based dyes derived from coal tar to make our foods more interesting and fun to eat.  Natural food dyes can and should be used.  Companies can use artificial colors to disguise the fact that there is actually little or no fruit in the product that they are selling.  These dyes are cost efficient for the producer at your risk.  Companies may also try to put carmine in foods to enhance red colors, but this is derived from the cochineal bug.  Consumers need to be more aware than ever about what is being put into the foods in the market.  What saves the producer money could be costing you your health.    

Do you need to find out if the food you are buying has artificial Colors in it?

    If you are looking for an easier way to find out if the food that you want to buy has artificial colors in it and would like to find alternative foods that have healthier ingredients, I recommend the Fooducate app.  With this app, you can scan the barcode of any food and find out what is really hiding in the ingredient list.  It gives each food a grade and a list of harmful ingredients (if any) that it contains.  For anyone who is new to avoiding artificial dyes, this app could be exactly what you need to make the right choices.  I am going to recommend this to everyone!  Way to go Fooducate!!!  Below is a link to their site and it shows what you will find on the new app.  If you have an iPod touch, iPad or an Android OS version 2.2 and up, you can find it in the app market place by the search term Fooducate.  It is also free at this time, so what are you waiting for?  Get on your phone and press download.  :)  

http://fooducate.com/index.html

Red Dye Free!: What are Artificial Colors? What to Look for.

Red Dye Free!: What are Artificial Colors? What to Look for.: The FDA categorizes food coloring into two groups. Natural and Artificial. There are seven artificial colors. These are Azo dyes that are...

Artificial Colors - It Doesn't Just Effect Children

    Children are not the only ones affected by red dye 40. Many adults never heard of or aren't willing to check into their diet to see if the things they are consuming are having an affect on them. I wonder how many marriages can be saved by people learning to stay away from the dyes that they are sensitive to. It can cause behavioral problems in adults. I believe that the best way to help our children is to find out more about ourselves. I realized that I was affected by red dye 40 as well. I would feel almost immediately irritable and I felt angry without a rational reason. People have the tendency to place blame on others for their behavior, but if you find yourself being excessively bothered by something that normally wouldn't effect you than it could be caused by consuming artificial colors - namely red dye 40. I would like to encourage people to look into their diet and see if there is a correlation between when they feel agitated, angry, or depressed and when they have consumed an artificial dye - red dye 40. If they are sensitive to it, then eliminating it would prove to be most beneficial in all aspects of their lives.