Author: Melinda Zhao
Editors: Elizabeth Li, Kevin Yao
Artist: Christine Wang
If you’ve ever walked into a grocery store, at least in the United States, the cereal aisle is always full of highly artificial cereal, such as Froot Loops, Fruity Pebbles, Trix, and more. These companies alter food to appeal to children visually. Most candy, chips, sodas, makeup, and some toothpaste can all have artificial colors added to them to appeal to customers. Scientists have now wondered about the potential impacts of artificial colors such as Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, and Blue 2. Questions about the dye’s safety and effects on health, particularly in children, have fueled debates among scientists and consumers.
Synthetic food dyes are man-made chemicals that do not provide any nutritional benefits and are typically only used to enhance the appearance of processed foods, especially those marketed to children. Unlike natural dyes, derived from plants or animals, synthetic dyes are created from petroleum or coal sources. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in charge of regulating the use of these food dyes, and they categorize the dyes into two groups: Certifiable dyes, synthetic dyes that must undergo a certification process and compliance before being used; and exempt dyes, that are derived from natural sources like plants or minerals that do not require certification but still need to meet safety standards.
While the FDA says that these dyes are safe under these standards and proper usage, new research increasingly shows that there may be some impact on children’s behavior. For instance, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) conducted a study on seven FDA-approved synthetic food dyes due to concerns about increasing rates of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other behavioral issues. What they found through the experiment is that some children were able to show signs of possible correlation with behavioral changes, mood changes, and hyperactivity from consuming synthetic dyes. Though there is no direct causational evidence, the OEHHA’s results cause California to act cautiously regarding food coloring.
In 2023, California passed the California School Food Safety Act, which banned six synthetic dyes in public schools starting in 2028. This act is meant to protect children from the potential harmful effects of consuming synthetic dyes, which could safeguard children’s behavioral health by ridding them of these additives in school environments.
A major challenge of the current research on food coloring is that the evidence from the research is often based on animal models that could benefit from a stronger correlation to human consumption and effects. Furthermore, the FDA’s daily intake levels of dyes do not align with the results that current research shows, since the FDA made its regulations based on studies conducted 35-70 years ago. Those levels of dyes now seem to be too high. Children are exposed to multiple dyes daily, thus updated guidelines could redefine what counts as “safe” for anyone to consume.
For parents or people who may be concerned about synthetic dyes, it is recommended to carefully read food labels on the packaging. Limiting the intake of processed foods and artificial dyes can help reduce exposure and benefit long-term health.
These food dyes add vibrancy to our foods but come with a history of controversy and questioning. While added coloring in processed foods is a detail on the labeling that should be scrutinized, there has not been a direct association between artificial dyes and any obvious behavior or development changes or hindrances. National agencies like the FDA affirm the safety of artificial coloring. However, it is still important to make informed decisions based on the continuous development of scientific research to learn more about the complex issue.
Citations:
Bell, B. (2023, July 17). Food dyes: Harmless or harmful?. Healthline.
Commissioner, O. of the. (2023, July 13). How safe are color additives?. U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-safe-are-
Delson, S. (2021, April 16). Report Links Synthetic Food Dyes to Hyperactivity and other
Neurobehavioral Effects in Children. Oehha.ca.gov. https://oehha.ca.gov/risk-
Hartley, S. (2024, October 28). Are synthetic food dyes bad for you? here’s the science.
Eating with your eyes: The Chemistry of Food Colorings. American Chemical Society. (n.d.).
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