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.

Red Dye Free!: A Check List: Could my child be affected by artificial colors?

Red Dye Free!: A Check List: Could my child be affected by artificial colors?

A Check List: Could my child be affected by artificial colors?

A Check List:  Could my child be affected by artificial colors? 
These are some symptoms that my child had due to artificial colors - mostly red dye 40.  If your child experiences any of these behaviors, you might want to try eliminating artificial colors.  Start with red dye 40.  I found a huge difference after removing this dye and the change was drastic and quick. 

• Acts aggressively from time to time
• Acts irrationally 
• Hits or kicks and has trouble calming down
• Time outs don't seem to work
• Disciplining doesn't seem to work
• Repeats bad behavior sporadically and you never know what might set him or her off
• Seems depressed
• Has low self-esteem
• Has poor motor coordination - poor handwriting, dysgraphia
• Child feels upset about how he or she acted and felt sad about feeling out of control
• Has increased hyper-activity
• Acts differently at birthday parties after eating artificially colored cake
• child has ADHD or ADD (children who have ADD or ADHD are more likely to become sensitive to artificial colors).  (some ADD or ADHD medications have artificial colors in them and you could ask for a dye-free alternative if your child uses prescription medication).

Parent Checklist

• Unable to discipline child
• Feeling like a bad parent
• Nothing you do seems to work
• Embarrassed by child's behavior
• Feeling like you need some answers

FDA decides No Warning Necessary on Artificial Dyes- However, Consumer Choice can Change Market

  Parents who find the cause of their child's symptoms are buying foods without artificial colors and are not going to wait for the FDA to put warning labels on foods. We are not going to wait for someone to finally complete a very valid study so the FDA can say what we already know. It's about money, it's about consumer choice, but for me it's also about educating others. I was a parent who could not understand what was happening to my child and why no form of discipline would make a difference. I saw my child struggle with depression, a lower self-esteem, uncontrollable fits of anger, and a lack of friends. I was ignorant and unaware that artificial dyes could cause such a behavior change in my child. Two years of this without anyone telling me to look at the dyes my child was eating. Warning labels would have been helpful and saved valuable time with my child. Today he is a bright, sweet child, with the ability to manage his anger rationally like other kids his age. So studies or no studies, I am not buying it any longer. Money talks in this greedy world. That is the only way to make a change, although I hoped for the sake of others that some sort of warning was issued for the other children and adults suffering.
    MSNBC.Com health has the latest news on this subject and what the FDA decided.  It was a close vote 6-8.  Please click on the link below and add your comments.     
http://health.newsvine.com/_news/2011/03/31/6384389-fda-panel-no-warning-needed-on-food-dye?threadId=3093106&commentId=52954750#c52954750

Join the conversation: Are you worried about artificial dyes?

    Welcome to Red Dye Free!  Recently, Moms Today lead a conversation about artificial dyes.  I encourage you to keep the conversation alive by clicking the following link:     http://moms.today.com/_news/2011/03/29/6369981-why-some-moms-have-banned-artificial-food-dyes-from-their-kids-diets
 
    I also encourage you to vote here:   http://moms.today.com/_question/2011/03/29/6371288-do-you-worry-about-artificial-dyes-in-food

    Your opinions matter.  The conversations in the comment section is very interesting!  Why don't you join us and let others know how you feel about this topic? 

Red Dye Free on TodayMoms!

I was fortunate to have MSNBC and TodayMoms site share my blog.... www.reddyefree.blogspot.com. I have always been anonymous, or so I thought, but they managed to contact me. I am grateful to share this important information with others since it made a huge difference in my life and my childrens'.


http://moms.today.com/_news/2011/03/29/6369981-why-some-moms-have-banned-artificial-food-dyes-from-their-kids-diets

If you click on the link, you will also be able to view a very good video on this issue.  There is a child in this video who had trouble with his handwriting.  Occupational therapists would have probably labeled him as having dysgraphia (a problem with motor coordination skills).  After removing the harmful dyes in his food, his handwriting improved dramatically.  My son had the same problem with the dyes, along with behavioral problems from consumption of these dyes.  My son's handwriting is beautiful now and has no major behavioral issues to speak of as well.   

Could what you eat cause behavioral problems?

    I got started doing this blog years ago after learning that red dye 40 was the cause of my child's most turbulent behavior.  Then, I realized that the artificial dye was affecting other members of my family, including me.  After witnessing a complete turn around in my son, I felt compelled to share what I learned.  I learned that artificial dyes can cause stomach aches, depression, hives, have an effect on IQ, cause motor-coordination problems and behavioral problems - to name a few.  Why should children or anyone else needlessly suffer because of consuming these harmful dyes.  Before having my children, I taught third grade.  I recall some of my students having the same dye-induced look that my child used to have after consuming red-dye 40.  I couldn't understand why their behavior was so irrational while other days they were calm, sweet children who were able to focus.  One child could sit in his desk calmly and was able to focus on his work and then after lunch he would be a completely different child.  He would lay on the floor, roam the room, cause problems with the other students.  Could what he had during lunch have caused a behavioral change?  Could the dyes make this much of a difference in their life?  I believe it can and so do many people who leave their comments of thanks for this blog.  For children and even adults who are sensitive to these dyes, it will transform their lives if they eliminate these dyes from their diet.  My child's self-esteem blossomed, has many friends, can focus, lost the dye-induced violent episodes, makes wonderful grades and is the sweet child I thought he was. 
    Please check out the two new videos I added from YouTube (in the right side column).  Also, please sign the petition to make healthier school lunches without artificial dyes.  You and everyone together can make a difference!
   

The Red Dye Free Store has Easter Stuffers without Red Dye 40!

    I just updated the Red Dye Free Store so that it would be easier to find Easter Basket stuffers without all of the harmful artificial dyes.  If you click on the Red Dye Free Store link  http://astore.amazon.com/re05f-20, it will take you directly to the store.  I included items like candy, stuffed toys, Webkinz Easter stuffed animals, fun and inexpensive toys, and many other fun items to explore! 

 Photo of Webkinz for sale in Red Dye Free Store! 

    Your child can have everything and more without the harmful artificial dyes that are being consumed so abundantly today.  Do the ingredients in your Easter candy look something like this?  “Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Oil and/or Palm Oil), Whey, Cocoa, Lactose, Skim Milk, Soy Lecithin, Vanillin, Artificial Colors (Blue #1, Blue #2, Red #40, Yellow #5, Yellow #6 & Red #3). May contain Peanuts/Nuts.”   Look at all of the artificial colors in just one Palmer Bunny!  Artificial colors such as these are derived from petroleum- a coal tar.  Some children are very sensitive to these dyes.  Some children may experience hives, migraines, stomach aches, and hyper-activity (to name a few).  Some children are very sensitive to red dye 40 and it effects their behavior drastically and they become defiant and even belligerent.  It is important that parents are aware because staying away from these dyes can change their relationship with their child who is sensitive to the dyes and they can enjoy who they really are.
    I wish everyone a very Happy Easter and may it be very Happy!  :)

Do Fruits and Vegetables have Artificial Colors? Should you Be Concerned?

    I would like to share the following articles that I read yesterday about producers using artificial colors to enhance the colors of fruits and vegetables that I would like to share. 

http://www.NaturalNews.com/022870_artificial_colors_food.html

http://www.ehow.com/list_7631752_dyes-enhance-color-fruits-vegetables.html

    I have had many people ask me about artificial colors in fruits and vegetables and perhaps like you, I am curious to find out the truth.  There is always the possibility of faulty information on the Internet and so I encourage you to write to the FDA to discover the truth as well.  To me it sounds very counterproductive to eat fruits and vegetables if the very foods that you are consuming are laden with petro chemicals (artificial colors).  We already know that these artificial synthetic colors can cause changes in behavior and the latest news is that they can cause cancer, but what bothers me is how some producers try to enhance the look of fruits and vegetables to sell their product.  What I am curious about is do these producers who artificially color their produce with artificial colors have to label them as having added colors?  What is the regulation for this?  I am more encouraged more than ever to buy organic fruits and vegetables.  I want my apple to be an apple only - not a fake petro-chemically colored fake apple. 

Are you kidding me???

    I recently did a blog about how Domino's Pizza uses yellow dye for their new crust and all of a sudden Domino's started advertising on my site!  I wouldn't mind if they didn't use artificial dyes but now I will have to block them from further advertisements until (hopefully) they change their menu.  Did they do that on purpose???  It is pretty ironic.  :)  Lately, I find that advertisements (even after they are blocked) slip in under a slightly different name so that they can (in my opinion) try to discredit a person's site.
    So if you are really into eating foods with artificial dyes that are made of petroleum and you don't mind that they can potentially cause cancer or behavioral problems in some individuals, than feel free to click on their advertisement and use their coupons, but I won't be eating it until they put healthier ingredients in their menu.  There really isn't any need to color pizza ingredients with artificial dyes anyways, right??  

Does Pizza have artificial colors?

     Domino's Pizza recently changed the taste of their pizza with their new garlic seasoning on the crust.  After eating the pizza with my family, I was feeling less patient and my boys were too.  In the morning I decided to check the ingredient listing and found that the new garlic seasoning has FD&C Yellow 5.  I decided to skip eating the leftovers for lunch.  You might be surprised that eating these artificial colors can have an effect on your mood.  I was at first, but after test after test for me the result was the same.  It can effect your mood if you are susceptible to it.

FDA to Hold Hearing on Food Dyes, Children's Behavior ~ Newsroom ~ News from CSPI ~ Center for Science in the Public Interest

FDA to Hold Hearing on Food Dyes, Children's Behavior ~ Newsroom ~ News from CSPI ~ Center for Science in the Public Interest

This is great news to all parents and children who have chosen to stay away from artificial synthetic coloring. My children are already finding the benefits of staying clear from these artificial dyes. They look forward to more choices in the food market and have already found many foods and snacks in which the companies have opted to have healthier ingredients. We hope that the FDA will finally encourage companies to use healthier food dyes.

Great News Moms and Dads! Another snack for your kids that switched to natural colors!!!

    Recently I received a comment from Kate saying that Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers with Colors now is made with natural colors instead of the synthetic dyes it previously had.  I am always glad to update my food list regarding which foods do not have artificial colors.   From the Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers newsroom, White has the following to say:  “With the scrutiny surrounding artificial colors in foods, we were thrilled to be able to make this change in our Goldfish Colors crackers and introduce Goldfish Colors Neon using the same formula."  I am so thrilled about their switch that I dedicate this post to Pepperidge Farms for delivering healthier options for our children.  Thank you Pepperidge Farms and thank you Kate for the update!!!
*Remember always read the ingredients to make sure that you are getting what you think you are. 

Advertisements on Blog???

    Months ago I added advertisements on my blog.  My reasoning is that it might show more businesses who choose dye-free products or who use products with natural food coloring like beets or tumeric.  Some of the advertisements have been pretty interesting and go right along with the blog, but others have unfortunately slipped through my filtering system and advertise products in which Red Dye Free! would not endorse.  Please keep that in mind if you find an advertisement worth clicking on - that it may include artificial dyes that are harmful.  I hope that you find some of the advertisements (with dye-free products) worthwhile and maybe even helpful.