What a child wants you to know about artificial colors

Candy cereals. Neon pickles. Wasabi peas. Many popular foods get their eye attraction from artificial colors. Artificial colors are exactly what they sound like: synthetic dyes used in food products to look attractive to children and adults.

Recently, artificial colors became more weighty themes. You may have seen the item appeared in news or social media.

Some of what you see can be quite alarming, so it is understandable if you wonder if some of your food stores could be harmful to your health.

As a registered dietitian, I am here to share facts about artificial colors and their potential influences.

What are the colors of artificial food?

Food colors are often derived from petroleum chemicals (1).

Many artificial colors are approved by the US food and medicine administration (FDA) and European food safety bodies (EFSA) for use in processed foodGummy vitamins and medications (1, 2).

Some of the most commonly used artificial foods (10) Turn on:

• Red 3 (erythrosin): Cherry-red shade.
• Red 40 (Allura red): Dark red color.
• Yellow 5 (Tartrazine): Lemon-yellow color.
• Yellow 6 (sunset yellow): Orange-yellow shade.
• Blue 1 (brilliant blue): greenish-blue color.
• Blue 2 (indigo carmine): Royal blue color.
• Green 3 (Fast green): Grass green color.

The FDA has recently banned using red 3 in food, add-ons and oral medications, but companies have by January 2027. or 2028. to remove colors from their products (14).

For now, both FDA and EFSA still approve of the use of red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 1 and blue 2 (12). Some other colors approve one regulatory body, but not. Red 40 is the most commonly used food for food (3).

These artificial colors can appear in food like (11):

• Breakfast cereals
• Packed Peked goods
• Preserved fruit
• Ice cream
• Jarred Kirkings
• Packed soups
• Popsicles
• Candy and fruit rubbers
• Spices and sauces
• Snacks with cheese
• Salty snacks, like flavored popcorn and chips
• Weak and frozen drinks
• Sports drinks and non-alcoholic beverages
• Gels and packages for arranging cakes

Since 2010, food with certain artificial colors in Europe carries a warning label that reads “, may have a negative effect on activities and attention in children” (5).

There is no equivalent marking system in the United States. This is because there is insufficient evidence for DEEM approved color insecure, according to FDA (12).

Potential health effects of artificial food

Some studies have set possible concern over the artificial color of food. This survey suggests that Artificial colors can affect the health in child behavior (6).

For example, report from 2021. year of California Oehha related artificial colors on behavioral issues such as hyperactivity in children (7). One 2024 review 15 studies suggests that artificial courage can harm health. Again, these risks are even greater concerns about children (8).

Due to research on their possible effects of behavior, California is a ban on six artificial colors in public schools in 2024. years. This was known as Food safety law in California. Since then, 11 states have introduced similar legislation for a ban on food and additives (15, 16).

Eligible daily entries for these colors were set before the decade, before the legitimate research was carried out (6). Recent studies suggest that Current eligible daily entries can be set too high for childrenthat can be more vulnerable to potential food effects (6).

In 2018, the report of the US Academy of Pediatrics called for security (9). More research is required to fully understate the possible impact of temple colors.

What does all this mean for you?

In the absence of persuasive research on the possible health influences of artificial colors, You may want to consider limiting them, especially if you feed your children, as a precaution. Fortunately, this has become easier to do, with many naturally colored foods entering the market.

If you want to have a careful of artificial colors

Here’s what you can do if you want to restrict artificial food in your diet:

1. Choose full food: Reduce ultra-processed food consumption and focus on the nutrition of healthy, whole groceries. This will automatically reduce your entry of artificial food with an additional bonus improvement in all overall health.
2. Be informed: Check food stickers. Identify colors in food products and find or make natural alternatives.
3. Learn children about healthy dish: Show them how to make choices on food. It will help them understand why you may go to new choices for some of their snacks.
4. To go naturally: Thanks to customers who searched, food colored with natural ingredients are available in most jobs. You can also experiment with natural alternatives to add color and flavors into food at home, such as:
   • Blue Spirulina (blue)
   • Red beet powder (red)
   • Turmeric or carrot (orange)
   • Saffron (Yellow Orange)
   • Berries like raspberry and blueberries (pink, blue, purple)
   • Red cabbage (blue)
   • Match or spinach (green)

Each natural color will have something different preparation of the method. You can easily find them online. This is a fun activity for children, and they can see how they can color food without using artificial colors.

By taking these steps you can help restrict artificial colors for you and your family.

Artificial foods are a hot topic for consumers with health. Some decide to limit the artificial foods of food in their diet because research suggest that these colors can have side effects, especially for children. More research is needed.

It may not be realistic to completely eliminate artificial colors from your diet. So enjoy your favorite candy, drink or other treats moderate, whether there are natural or artificial ingredients. It’s a balance!

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