Artificial Colors - What does that include? What is in our foods should not be a mystery!

I am adding to my last post about Artificial Colors. Since it is very confusing. Many people have heard about bugs being used as food coloring in certain foods. The bugs are cochineal insects (also called carmine) and they were previously listed only as "artificial colors" or "color added" since it was in the Exempt FDA list. The article in the following link -
(http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/06/01/UPI-NewsTrack-Quirks-in-the-News/UPI-55451243894399/) - informs us that the FDA approved a new regulation set for 2011 and requiring companies that use the "dried bodies of cochineal insects to create food dyes to list the ingredient on their labels". Until then, unless you don't mind eating bugs, you might want to stay away from all "artificial colors or color added" foods. Sometimes carmine or cochineal is listed in the ingredients, but not always.
Personally, our family stays away from those foods. I don't trust eating red bugs. To me red in nature means "beware or poisonous" - unless it is a certain fruit. Some people are allergic to this little bug and could put them at risk for anaphylactic shock. Check out the latest CSPI News release in the link listed below. It describes the risks for some people. Included in this link is the following statement: "Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D., executive director of CSPI, said, "No one should have to experience a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction just because they ate an artificially colored food. Food manufacturers should switch to other colorings."
Here is the link: http://www.cspinet.org/new/carmine_8_24_98.htm

Here are some steps for eliminating red dye 40.

First, Read all food labels. Food colors are generally listed ...avoid Red Dye 40 - it is derived from petroleum, but the trick is sometimes they will say artificial colors - avoid these! Carmine is also a red dye, but it is derived from a bug. I avoid this too! There are much more pleasant ingredients to use than that. Don't trust the color of things. For example, all of the M&M's have Red Dye 40 in them. In order to make brown, they needed to use red 40, mixed with some other colors. I used to just avoid the red ones until I found out that all of the M&M's have it in them with various amounts.

Some goldfish crackers do not have red dye 40 in the ingredient list. The goldfish crackers that do have red dye 40 in the ingredient list needs to be avoided, because like the M&M's all of the crackers have red dye 40 in them with various amounts.

Next, almost every medicine has Red 40 in it. Read labels....you can often find alternatives and dye-free medications. Benedryl, and Tylenol has a dye-free option. Children's cough syrups and medicinal liquids are notorious for having Red Dye 40 in them. Now not only are your kids feeling sick, they are also whining, crying, fighting and angry!

Check with your pharmacist to see if there is an alternative to the medication. Even antidepressants can have Red 40 in them - no wonder so many people are not feeling any better after trying them! When I need to take Pseudofed for sinus problems, I wash the red coating off before taking it.

Colored cereals, cake mixes, frosting, fruit snacks, candy, Poptarts, yogurts, baked goods, barbecue sauces, soft drinks, juices, Tostitos, Doritoes, and other snack chips and even ice creams can have red-dye 40 in them. I even found in one particular bag of Tostitos 100% White Corn Scoops with Hint of Jalapeno had Artificial Color (including Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1, and Red 40). Ironically it had this written on it, "Made with All Natural Oil - We grow the best snacks on Earth." Why would 100% white corn scoops need all of those artificial colors in it??? Also, if they do grow the best snacks on Earth, don't you think they would at least be good for you? So, don't let the Natural Oil fool you into thinking that it's good for you.

Toothpastes and mouthwashes also can have red dye 40 in them . There are alternatives to all of these, but you just have to really read the labels to find the right ones.

Never trust baked goods without an ingredient list - even store bakeries add this coloring.
Lastly, check out www.reddye40.org for a list of foods to avoid. You will be surprised! In our home we avoid all artificial food colorings because the chemical structure of the yellow dyes are very similar to red dye 40 and has a similar but less dramatic affect on our children. But, please don't get overwhelmed - it is possible to go dye-free! I did it!