Step #6: Skip Artificial Food Coloring!

What is food coloring and why is it in our food?

Setting aside first the health implications of ingesting artificial food coloring, it’s important to question the use of these colorings to trick the eye and stimulate the palette. If the food in question were fresh, real, & nutritious, chances are it would not need any help in the color department.

Usually the foods which have been colorized are processed foodstuffs (think colored cereal loops, desserts, iced cookies, candy, and sprinkles) and the artificial coloring isn’t the only item in the list of ingredients that ought to be avoided.

So what are the health implications of ingesting artificial food coloring?

From the Pediatrics channel on About.com:

“Food coloring is used to make certain foods have a more uniform color, to simulate the color of fruits and vegetables that aren’t actually in the food, and in many foods that are targeted at kids to make them more fun looking.”

Commonly used artificial food coloring agents include:

• Blue 1, a bright blue food dye that is commonly used in beverages, dairy products powders, jellies, confections, condiments, icings, syrups, and extracts

• Blue 2, royal blue food dye that is commonly used in baked goods, cereals, snack foods, ice cream, confections, and cherries

• Green 3, a sea green food dye that is commonly used in beverages, puddings, ice cream, sherbet, cherries, confections, baked goods, and dairy products

• Red 40, an orange-red food dye that is commonly used in gelatins, puddings, dairy products, confections, beverages, and condiments

• Red 3, a cherry-red food dye that is commonly used in cherries in fruit cocktail and in canned fruits for salads, confections, baked goods, dairy products, and snack foods – made from coal tar and could be carcinogenic

• Yellow 5, a lemon-yellow food dye that is commonly used in custards, beverages, ice cream, confections, preserves, and cereals – made from coal tar, people with aspirin sensitivity made not tolerate it and is a bad choice for people with frequent asthma

• Yellow 6, an orange food dye that is commonly used in cereals, baked goods, snack foods, ice cream, beverages, dessert powders, and confections”

Above are the artificial colorings which are permitted in food by the FDA as of 2007. They are often used in cosmetics which are absorbed by the skin. Artificial food colorings are made from petroleum chemicals or coal tar and are not safe to be ingested by humans through mouth or skin.

The Feingold Association has collected extensive research on the effects of artificial food coloring and believes that avoiding artificial additives, such as coloring, can reduce the incidence of behavioral and/or learning disabilities such as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Rather than medicating a child for hyperactivity and lack of focus, removing known irritants from the diet is a natural and safer solution.

In the store, look for more natural versions of the processed products you wish to eat which may use natural colorings instead of artificial ones. It’s best if the ingredient label lists the actual natural colorings (such as caramel coloring, annatto, chlorella algae, betanin (beets), turmeric, saffron, paprika, or elderberry juice) rather than the ubiquitous “natural coloring” non-specific catch-all phrase.

If you enjoy cooking with coloring, there are many sources for natural dyes such as NaturesFlavors.com.

When you choose a real, whole food diet, most of these additives are naturally avoided. It can be particularly challenging with children in the house, but it is worth your extra effort to prevent these chemicals from entering their precious bodies and brains.

The food industry has perfected the art of marketing to children and an inordinate number of children’s foodstuffs (think “fruit” chewies, cereal, and birthday cakes) contain bright colors which are particularly dangerous to their small, developing bodies.

Avoiding artificial food coloring is a must if you intend to be healthy and prevent disease. Once you start reading labels you will be AMAZED by how common, and unfortunate, of an ingredient it is.

There’s your Step #6. Now go rid your kitchen of all products containing artificial food coloring. Your tomorrow body will thank you for it!