Artificial Food Dyes
Food Dyes are artificial chemicals added to foods to change their color. There is conflicting research as to if avoiding food dyes really does benefit behavior in children. Some research finds that food colors Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 3, Yellow 5 and 6, Citrus Red 2, and Red 40 can trigger many behaviors (i.e. hyperactivity) in many kids.
According to the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA): “Overall, human studies indicate that synthetic food dyes are associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in children and that children vary in their sensitivity to synthetic food dyes.”
The big picture: food dyes do not provide any nutritional value or health benefit, only potential risks - and therefore may be best avoided. The good news is that there are many plant-based options available (or you can DIY!) to add some color to your favorites! For more information on implementing these changes, read the Dye-Free Diet note.
Want some of our favorite plant-based alternatives? Check out [Round Up] Plant-Based Food Dyes in the Recipes section of the ANL!
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All About Food Dyes
FD&C Blue #1
What is it and where is it found?
FD&C Blue 1 is a water soluble food coloring. It is also known as “brilliant blue” and is used in baked goods, beverages, candy, cereals, medications and other products. It has been used in the US food supply since 1969.
What are natural alternatives?
Red cabbage is a great way to create a natural blue color. Red cabbage leaves turn blue when soaked in a basic solution. This website explains how to do it!
What does the research say?
During sepsis, otherwise non-absorbable may be absorbed due to an increase in gastrointestinal permeability, enterocyte death and loss of barrier function at intercellular gaps. We report two deaths associated with the systemic absorption of blue dye no. 1 from enteral feedings. [1-2[
The FDA warns that there have been 12 reported deaths associated with blue dye and tube feedings. In more than 75% of all reported cases, patients had a reported history of sepsis (and therefore likely altered gut permeability) before or during systemic absorption of Blue 1. [3]
Significant absorption of the dye has been reported in critically ill patients, presumably due to increased intestinal permeability, and this may account for adverse outcomes associated with blue dye absorption. [4]
Blue 1 causes hypersensitivity reactions. [5]
Food colors Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 3, Yellow 5 and 6, Citrus Red 2, and Red 40 can trigger many behaviors in most kids. Artificial food color sometimes contains heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury which may be present as impurities. [6]
FD&C Blue #2
What is it and where is it found?
FD&C Blue #2 (also known as indigo carmine) has been used in food and medications since 1983.
What are natural alternatives?
Blueberries can be used to create a purple/indigo color by adding water, bringing to a simmer over heat, mashing the berries and straining the liquid. This website explains how to do it!
What does the research say?
Food colors Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 3, Yellow 5 and 6, Citrus Red 2, and Red 40 can trigger many behaviors in most kids. Artificial food color sometimes contains heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury which may be present as impurities. [6]
Unfortunately, there is not much recent research on Blue 2. The majority of studies were conducted in the 1980s or prior. The Center for Science in the Public Interest recommends that Blue 2 not be used in foods due to its association with brain tumors in rats and due to the fact that it provides no nutritive value.
FD&C Green #3
What is it and where is it found?
FD&C Green #3 is not commonly used but has been approved since 1982 for use in food, cosmetics, medications and personal care products.
What are natural alternatives?
Matcha powder, which is made by grinding young green tea leaves, can be used to add a green color to foods. This website explains how to do it!
What does the research say?
Most research on Green 3 was conducted in 1980 or prior. There was reason to believe that it may be associated with bladder and testes tumors in rats. The Center for Science in the Public Interest recommends further studies to demonstrate that Green 3 is indeed safe for human consumption.
FD&C Red #3
What is it and where is it found?
FD&C Red #3 is a water soluble dye that actually contains iodine. It is used in maraschino cherries, sausage casings, candy, baked goods and medications.
What are natural alternatives?
Beet powder can be dissolved in water and added to foods to create a natural red coloring. This website explains how to do it!
What does the research say?
Red 3 causes cancer in animals. [5]
This study revealed that high‐dose treatment of carmoisine (aka Red 3) to mice was attributable to renal failure and hepatotoxicity. It also would be suspected as a culprit for liver oncogenesis. [7]
Food colors Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 3, Yellow 5 and 6, Citrus Red 2, and Red 40 can trigger many behaviors in most kids. Artificial food color sometimes contains heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury which may be present as impurities. [6]
Research on Red 3 was primarily conducted prior to the 1990s. The research prompted the FDA to recognize Red 3 as a cause of thyroid cancer and it was banned from use in cosmetics and topical drugs. All use of Red 3 lakes are also banned. However Red 3 is still permitted for use in foods and consumed medications. The Center for Science in the Public Interest recommends a total ban on the use of Red 3.
FD&C Red #40
What is it and where is it found?
FD&C Red #40 is the most used dye and can be found in beverages, desserts, candy, cereal, medications and cosmetics.
What are natural alternatives?
Beet powder can be dissolved in water and added to foods to create a natural red coloring. This website explains how to do it!
What does the research say?
Red 40 has been found to cause hypersensitivity reactions and to be contaminated with carcinogens. [5]
There are studies asserting that Red 40 is not genotoxic. [8-9]
Red 40 can lead to neurotoxicity. The acceptable daily dose could bring about impairment in spatial learning, memory and number of glial cells. High doses could impair learning, memory, and the structure of the medial prefrontal cortex. [10]
Food colors Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 3, Yellow 5 and 6, Citrus Red 2, and Red 40 can trigger many behaviors in most kids. Artificial food color sometimes contains heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury which may be present as impurities. [6]
FD&C Yellow #5
What is it and where is it found?
FD&C Yellow #5 is also known as tartrazine and is used widely in foods, drugs and cosmetics. It is the second most commonly used food dye (after Red 40).
What are natural alternatives?
Simmering saffron threads and water, allowing it to steep and then reducing the liquid can create a natural yellow color. This website explains how to do it!
Turmeric powder can also give a brilliant yellow color!
What does the research say?
Three dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) have been found to be contaminated with carcinogens. At least four dyes (Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) cause hypersensitivity reactions. Numerous microbiological and rodent studies of Yellow 5 were positive for genotoxicity. [5]
Tartrazine was associated with severe histopathological and cellular alterations of rat liver and kidney tissues and induced DNA damage in leukocytes. [11]
A study reported that there is a correlation between yellow dye and sleep disturbance. [6]
Food colors Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 3, Yellow 5 and 6, Citrus Red 2, and Red 40 can trigger many behaviors in most kids. Artificial food color sometimes contains heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury which may be present as impurities. [6]
The Center for Science in the Public Interest states that current studies regarding mutagenicity are inadequate and that tartrazine causes hypersensitivity reactions in children.
FD&C Yellow #6
What is it and where is it found?
FD&C Yellow #6 is also known as Sunset Yellow and is used widely in foods, drugs and cosmetics. Yellow 6 is among the top 3 most used food dyes in the USA.
What are natural alternatives?
Carrot powder can be used to create an orange color. This website explains how to do it!
What does the research say?
Three dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) have been found to be contaminated with carcinogens. At least four dyes (Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) cause hypersensitivity reactions. Numerous microbiological and rodent studies of Yellow 5 were positive for genotoxicity. [5]
The present study suggests that extensive use of synthetic dye should be forbidden due to genotoxic and cytotoxic impacts on living cells. [12]
Sunset yellow (SY) and sodium benzoate (NaB) are used as colorant and food additives worldwide.The results showed that the SY plus NaB could have genotoxic potential. [13]
A study reported that there is a correlation between yellow dye and sleep disturbance. [6]
Food colors Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 3, Yellow 5 and 6, Citrus Red 2, and Red 40 can trigger many behaviors in most kids. Artificial food color sometimes contains heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury which may be present as impurities. [6]
References
[1] Maloney JP, Halbower AC, Fouty BF, et al. Systemic absorption of food dye in patients with sepsis. N Engl J Med. 2000;343(14):1047-8.
[2] Angarita SAK, Duarte S, Russell TA, et al. Quantitative Measure of Intestinal Permeability Using Blue Food Coloring. J Surg Res. 2019;233:20-25.
[3] FDA Public Health Advisory: Subject: Reports of Blue Discoloration and Death in Patients Receiving Enteral Feedings Tinted With The Dye, FD&C Blue No. 1. FDA Website. Sept 2003.
[4] Lucarelli MR, Shirk MB, Julian MW, Crouser ED. Toxicity of Food Drug and Cosmetic Blue No. 1 dye in critically ill patients. Chest. 2004;125(2):793-5.
[5] Kobylewski S, Jacobson MF. Toxicology of food dyes. Int J Occup Environ Health. 2012;18(3):220-46.
[6] Bakthavachalu P, Kannan SM, Qoronfleh MW. Food Color and Autism: A Meta-Analysis. Adv Neurobiol. 2020;24:481-504.
[7] Reza MSA, Hasan MM, Kamruzzaman M, et al. Study of a common azo food dye in mice model: Toxicity reports and its relation to carcinogenicity. Food Sci Nutr. 2019;7(2):667-677.
[8] Honma M. Evaluation of the in vivo genotoxicity of Allura Red AC (Food Red No. 40). Food Chem Toxicol. 2015;84:270-5.
[9] Bastaki M, Farrell T, Bhusari S, Pant K, Kulkarni R. Lack of genotoxicity in vivo for food color additive Allura Red AC. Food Chem Toxicol. 2017;105:308-314.
[10] Noorafshan A, Hashemi M, Karbalay-doust S, Karimi F. High dose Allura Red, rather than the ADI dose, induces structural and behavioral changes in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats and taurine can protect it. Acta Histochem. 2018;120(6):586-594.
[11] Khayyat L, Essawy A, Sorour J, Soffar A. Tartrazine induces structural and functional aberrations and genotoxic effects . PeerJ. 2017;5:e3041.
[12] Dwivedi K, Kumar G. Genetic damage induced by a food coloring dye (sunset yellow) on meristematic cells of Brassica campestris L. J Environ Public Health. 2015;2015:319727.
[13] Ali MY, Hassan GM, Hassan AMS, Mohamed ZA, Ramadan MF. genotoxicity assessment of sunset yellow and sodium benzoate in female rats. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2020;43(5):504-513.
