Nutritionists and dieticians encourage us to consume a diet based on a rainbow of foods. Green leafy vegetables, yellow peppers and squash, orange carrots, red apples, purple cabbage, and so on.
Each of the colors represents a different nutrient or compound that work with your body to keep it healthy. These colors make the food visually appealing. Since we eat with our eyes before anything goes into our mouths, we strive to keep our food attractive.
In the age of processed foods, however, food coloring is added to create that fresh, attractive look. Bright red strawberry fillings in cereal bars and multi-hued candy coated shells dazzle our eyes and make our stomachs rumble in anticipation.
Why Food Dye is Used
When food is mass-produced and artificially created, nutrients and natural colors are lost. In order to keep them appetizing, manufacturers add in artificial food dye, preservatives, and agents to inhibit spoilage. The natural beauty and nutrition of foods is replaced with fake compounds in the name of making it pretty and marketable. Manufacturers hush up the very real links found between synthetic food dye and cancer, organ failure, and neurological dysfunction.
In the United States, it continues to be big business and new artificial foods are being created every day to meet demand.
Why Can’t the U.S. Follow the EU’s Lead?
The European Union decided to put a halt to potentially dangerous additives in 2010. In Britain, manufacturers were requested to replace artificial food colors and flavors with natural alternatives. At the very least, any foods containing artificial food dyes now have to carry a warning label.
The U.S. currently has no plans to ban food dye or alter any of the regulations concerning these additives. This is in spite of research that shows the danger food dyes pose to consumers, particularly children (which also happen to be the primary demographic for most brightly colored foods).
Food Dye Colors to Watch Out For
Some of the most dangerous color additives currently in use are:
Blue #1 (Brilliant Blue) – found primarily in baked goods, beverages, and cereals. It caused kidney tumors in laboratory mice.
Blue #2 (Indigo Carmine) – colorant in candies, pet food, and other items. Shown to cause brain tumors in rats.
Green #3 (Fast Green) – found in many cosmetics, candy, and drugs. Increases tumors of the bladder and testes in male rats.
Red #3 (Erythrosine) – colors maraschino cherries, baked goods, and candy. Banned by the FDA for causing thyroid tumors when used in externally applied cosmetics and topical drugs.
Red #40 (Allura Red) – the most widely used dye found in cereals, desserts, drugs, and cosmetics. Accelerates immune system tumors in mice and triggers allergic reactions and hyperactivity in children.
Yellow #5 (Tartrazine) – found in any number of baked goods, cereal, gelatin products, and dessert powders. Causes severe hypersensitivity and triggers hyperactivity disorders and other behavioral issues in children.
Yellow #6 (Sunset Yellow) – Used in beverages, desserts, gelatin, candy, and even sausage. Found to cause adrenal tumors and trigger severe hyperactivity in children.
Unfortunately, these food dyes are so commonly used, particularly in food aimed at children, that parents don’t even consider the dangers. Rainbow cereals, blue energy drinks, electric-orange cheese flavored snacks are commonplace on supermarket shelves and usually inexpensive as well.
Children are the Main Victims of Food Dye
There are no warnings in the U.S. (as there is in the European Union) that alert parents that the dyes contained in the foods have been shown to cause behavioral changes and attention issues in children. Without a warning, it’s assumed to be safe and continues to be manufactured and consumed with gusto.
Children see bright colors and demand that their wants be satisfied. Meanwhile, well-meaning parents wonder why their kids are bouncing off the walls and taking medicine for attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other behavioral problems that are becoming a pandemic all their own.
The problems aren’t in their brains… it’s in their food.
Behavior isn’t the only concern with food dyes. Laboratory studies continue to show that these dyes, used in almost every food processed in the U.S., have carcinogenic properties.
Every single year, manufacturers dump over 15 million pounds of food dye into our food supply. These food dyes are added simply to make food prettier and more attractive, despite it being known that these dyes cause cancer in both lab animals and humans. They have no nutritional qualities whatsoever, but continue to be used.
Food Dye Made From Petroleum
Petroleum-based food dyes are particularly dangerous. The dyes contain benzidine, proven to dramatically raise the risk of developing cancer. The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that ingestion is typically under the “concern threshold.” Their routine tests are in question for not fully recognizing the true amount or levels that a body can store, thereby building up quantities in the system. Nor do they take into consideration the increasing exposure of children to these substances in other products besides their food.
With a policy of not commenting on topics under review, the FDA remains silent on this issue.
Safer Food Color Options Do Exist
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has accused the FDA of ignoring the evidence and failing to protect the public. With safer alternatives available, there is no reason to continue their use. Safe food dyes include those made from carrots, beets, berries, herbs, and spices such as saffron or paprika.
Orange soda in Britain is colored with pumpkin and carrot extracts, while in the U.S. it is made with Red40 and Yellow6. Cereal bars, thought by parents to be a healthier treat, use Red40, Yellow6, and Blue1 instead of beet, paprika, and annatto (made from seeds of the achiote tree).
Consumer groups are rallying against the FDA, charging them with the responsibility to protect consumers and fight manufacturers that argue against widespread changes.
Studies continue into the dangers of artificial food dyes and additives and the FDA is performing their own assessments as well. In the meantime, as consumers, there are alternatives available.
Where to Find Natural Food Dyes in the U.S.
Major health food chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s have banned items containing artificial dyes and even have natural food colorings available for home baking. Organic foods, including kid favorites like cereals, snack bars, and macaroni and cheese are on supermarket shelves across the U.S.
Organic foods use natural dyes in their process as well as healthier ingredients overall. Homemade foods, rather than manufactured, are the very best alternative, but not always an option for busy families.
Parents should be aware of the dangers and make the best choices they can until the U.S. catches up with the European Union. Diligence and awareness is key to keeping kids safe and healthy.
Knowing the link between food dye and cancer and taking action to avoid them is another step in leading an anti-cancer lifestyle.
Article Summary
Colors make food visually appealing. Manufacturers add artificial food dye to processed foods to mimic colors found in nature.
Many of these artificial colors are linked to health issues including cancer, organ failure, and neurological dysfunction.
The European Union halted potentially dangerous additives in 2010. In Britain, manufacturers replaced artificial food colors and flavors with natural alternatives. At the very least, foods containing artificial food dyes now have to carry a warning label.
The U.S. currently has no plans to ban food dyes or warn consumers − even though many of these products are marketed to children.
Some of the most dangerous color additives currently in use in the U.S. are:
- Blue #1 (Brilliant Blue) – caused kidney tumors in laboratory mice.
- Blue #2 (Indigo Carmine) – shown to cause brain tumors in rats.
- Green #3 (Fast Green) – increases tumors of the bladder and testes in male rats.
- Red #3 (Erythrosine) – banned by the FDA for causing thyroid tumors when used in externally applied cosmetics and topical drugs.
- Red #40 (Allura Red) – accelerates immune system tumors in mice and triggers allergic reactions and hyperactivity in children.
- Yellow #5 (Tartrazine) – causes severe hypersensitivity and triggers hyperactivity disorders and other behavioral issues in children.
- Yellow #6 (Sunset Yellow) – found to cause adrenal tumors and trigger severe hyperactivity in children.
Natural food dye options do exist. Organic foods use natural dyes in their process as well as healthier ingredients overall. Homemade foods are the very best alternative.
I drink in all of your information, I have ongoing battle with mu immune system and have had two cancers that I have dealt with in the past 8 years both of which were in y mouth and one was stage two. The second was not staged just removed as soon as it was spotted by me. Information is key and being able to spot and be aware of your own body and what is normal and what is not. In other words be your own advocate. I want so badly to attack this what I deal with, your articles teach me just how to do it and be on top of everything. I do all natural very little protein in meat form and mostly fresh organic fruits and vegetables. I do do some vitamin’s and products from everything natural. I crave more information including getting medical cannibus (spelling) I live in Pa. so I keep asking for it from my Dr only to get looked at like I am crazy. Hopefully it is available for all of us to use as needed . I do not smoke so this is not an option? Keep me informed as I look forward to anything that may help me? Thank you for all of us!
Yes, it was the first ingredient I started paying attention to upon becoming s parent 12 years ago. I started with artificial colorings,high fructose corn syrup and sodium. I’ve since upped my standards. I know it’s primarily junk food, highly processed, that’s using the dyes anyways but it’s nice to see Aldi is not using it in any of their own foods now. Awesome move in my opinion.
That will all change if we stay in the EU, then TTIP agreement will come into play, then we awill have their crap food dumped on us full of every chemical going from Monsanto.
Ty, May the Lord continue to use you and your ministry, and may He give you wisdom to carry on the good work of informing us about cancer. My only request is having your material translated into Spanish. Perhaps someday this can be a reality–God bless you sir.
thank you for the information.
also can’t find one of the cancer seminars that i bought. can u help me
thanks
Hi Dave, If you need help with this kind of issue the best advice that I can give you is to contact one of our customer support agents. Here is how to get a hold of them: https://support.thetruthaboutcancer.com/submit_ticket
The U.S. used to be leading country in every area. Now we are the leading country in drug use, ever-increasing disease, obese and disease-causing food industry, and government corruption by virtue of overlooking such issues for personal gain of those who make the decisions. And most of this has occurred in the last generation (40 years). We are on the edge of following ‘the fall of Rome’.
Sites like this is a God send for people who want info on how to be healthy. ( thank you Ty) I find it hard to stay on track 100%. I only eat the chickens I raise and wild game. I plant a garden and eat canned fruits and vegetables from my root cellar. I limit going out to eat, and watch what I drink. We have to be observant of labels, and not trust that our government is looking out for our best interest.
Hello Ty,
I pray for you and thank you for stepping out and telling us the truth .
God Bless you , as you continue to research and keep us informed.
Blessings.
HI jUDY, i USE A LIQUID ZEOLITE PRODUCT AND A PRODUCT WITH 6 MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS, THE LIQUID ZEOLITE GENTLY REMOVES HEAVY METALS AND TOXINS FROM THE BODY ON A CELLULAR LEVEL AND THE MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS BOOSTS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO KILL CANCER CELLS. THE LIQUID ZEOLITE ALSO ACTIVATES THE P21 GENE WHICH KILLS THE CANCER CELLS. THANK YOU
MARTY fARBSTEIN
You ask WHY the US (Canada is just as bad) refuses to ban hundreds of thousands of toxic additives to the very broken food system. We are also two of the only existing countries in the world that refuse to even label GMOs and are still completely ignoring the toxic poisoning of citizens resulting from trillions of tons of herbicides and pesticides – all of which decimate the pollinators, the soil, the entire chain of insects, birds, rodents etc. and best of all US! We seriously need to get out of the pockets of Big Toxic Pharma and charge them all with crimes against humanity – perhaps the UN can intervene, as we are going backwards at breakneck speed.
Thank you for getting the dangers of food coloring out there. My husband and two of my four sons are extremely sensitive to red 40 as well as carmel coloring. They are feeling fine and all the sudden they feel intense anger. As the wife and mother, their anger was often directed at me… Clean you room, set the table etc. While they were never physically or even emotional abusive, I still felt their anger. One day my husband ate some smarties candy and he felt the anger come on, that was how we discovered it. Life is so much better now that they avoid coloring but it creeps in when you don’t expect it. Coloring is in EVERYTHING processed. I have spread the word and lots of people have found their children are sensitive to red. When children with food coloring sensitities aren’t reared in a fairly stable home, I wonder how many them end up in prison. What can we do to get rid of food coloring?
smoking anything isn’t good.
go for the cannabis-oil. best effect.
taken in drops under the tongue.
So glad you are keeping us informed about all the dangers of refined foods.
I WAS JUST TOLD TODAY CANNIBUS OIL IS NOW AVAILABLE IN TEXAS.
Where do you purchase P 21 and the medicinal mushrooms?
You might as well be interested in the Wim Hof Method, Judy. Since I practise WHM and that is only a week now (e.g. cold showers and a beautiful breathingmethod) I feel so much better! I haven’t felt so “alive and kicking” for years.. Good luck and all the best!
Great post Ty, I think everything you’re doing is amazing and you’ve given a lot of people hope and knowledge. Important to note that while colour Annatto 160a is natural, it actually causes a reaction in some sensitive people. I personally suffer headaches, allergic sneezing/congestion and digestive issues from it.
Thanks for the good advice, Love to all!
Ty, I totally agree with the article on how dangerous arty official colours can be and how not much awareness exist on this subject.
My child is allergic to artificial dyes – esp red and yellow. we don’t buy artificial anything at home but she was getting those in daycare and after-school program and that’s when I started looking into it. there is another Color called caramel – that could possibly be a combination of one or more of above list – that’s as dangerous. it seems to be a common name for a dangerous Color that is put into meatballs (yeah!) and other seaming my colourless food to make it look even more enticing.
Thank You Ty for this information. Now all I need to do is figure out how to make natural dyes if I want to dye something
India Tree or Confection Craft makes some natural liquid food dyes that we use.
This is something I’m worried about if TTIP will come to happen… that in the EU we will be forced to losen our laws and open the doors to Monsanto and the likes poisoning more and more people. Everybody please speak up against TTIP… they only people benefitting from it are the big corporations, but not the citizens of the affected countries!
Hi Ty,
It would be great if you could have your material translated in Portuguese.
I appreciate your work.
Fatima
Hi Judy and Marty, 10 years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer (Lymphoma), I had a friend who kept on telling me to use medicinal mushrooms (can be purchased at health food stores in capsules). For 18 months, everything that I was doing kept the cancer from growing, but it didn’t go away. So I finally tried the medicinal mushrooms for 3 months as I got my blood checked every 3 months. At the end of the 3 months, my cancer did not get better, in fact it got worse for the 1st time! I started to begin my learning about pH balancing and detoxifying which then made sense to me about mushrooms as they are a fungus which is a toxin and acidic. Dr. Robert Young of pH Miracle said yes they may have short term positive effects, but long term there are better ways to bump up your immune system such as Astragalus, or Kelp. But the VERY best way is to get the toxins out, eat/juice fresh raw green leafy vegetables along with a variety of other colored vegetables and some fresh fruit, and pure spring water. When I added doing a deep detoxifying and eating/drinking pH rich foods to what I was already doing, in just 6 weeks, my tumor marker in my blood work DROPPED in 1/2!!!
Hi, congratulations on taking great strides toward great health! I just thought I’d add my opinion, as a cancer survivor who learned to do it naturally… Don’t think about it like you are attacking anything. Cancer is your own confused cells. Instead love your body, and nourish it in food but thought also! I finally experienced the most complete recovery when I began to thank my dis-ease for what it was teaching me, and it sounds like yours has lead you down a good path as well! ????
Oops, that was supposed to be a reply for Judy Roberts’ comment????
I have a really interesting question, but I’ve watched few videos to support it. So, let me ask something on a level, and say this implied the color wheel? For each color, food, or production of our bodies? When we eat these things, each moment, also day we spend in the sun with these colors that cause cancer. Are inside our food, so say we use the opposite, and possible answer could be. We can reverse the effect of the cancer, or would you possibly look into a 1991 treatment? It’s kind of already errant to the world, there is a cure, but at the same time. Micro-frequency has been known to have a use. Adapting to bodies, such like animals, human organs, also things like living computer organisms. Unlike us, test have been shown, but I don’t expect many people to believe me anyway. However, the sun is blamed 99.8% of the time as the product for cancer. However, if this old motto does stand out:”You are what you’ve eaten?” It’s quite obvious, people in our government since 1991 have something hidden. Cancer is the biggest money maker in the USA. They cannot lose cancer, as a money maker, or hospitals are out of business. They charge you by waiting rooms, and due to how many other people can get you sick by waiting there? You know, often it had me wondering, but is it not a barn of sick people becoming more sick? I suppose the main question is, what we eat, and how we become? can people simply use the other colors, what would they use, and how to go about avoiding this cancerous disease all together? I’ve simply watched a really wonderful man, friend of mine, and die from a brain tumor. The doctors at a hospital, only killed him by doing Chemotherapy, because they’re burning away the good cells by halting healing already trying so hard to fight off other things. So, it is a method to pain relief, but since 1991? These treatments have been used in secrecy places. I’m simply telling people, because by word of mouth? I cannot simply address how the issue can be fixed, but it is possible you can do that from homes. Considering the time, gap, and when you have had this cancer? Maybe you can reverse it naturally, or do something so much as a 1991 treatment that both do about the same thing. Matching the micro-frequency of the cancer cell, and in the affected area of the body. Then realigning the off-set nucleus, but it is mainly targeting the government for covering a lot up. While, I am not a doctor, because I have many people wondering if there is a cure? Where to go, I will say this, because it isn’t a hospital. Many people target something, due to how it stops their business, but a doctor often will not want to find a cure. He’s greedy, not saying anyone here isn’t, or is. It’s not bashing many good doctors out there, because synthetic polymers can help blood clotting now. So, there seems to be, also to me a lot the people can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
I suggest you go to a naturopathic doctor or clinic and have someone suggest a good book for you to read. There are too many holes in your thought processes that can confuse you and others. Wellness Clinics are good places to go also and if you can attend a wellness symposium you will learn a lot. However, you do have the main thought process correct…you don’t want to deal with a doctor of western medicine only, you want to find a doctor or clinic that specializes in specific treatments for specific illnesses. You can find Naturopathic Doctors in your city or state on the net too. Just do a google search.
?
Are you referring to Aldi in Germany?
We started the Feingold Diet for my then 4 year old and removed all dyes. Gone was his ADHD in two days! Thank you for educating parents on the real health dangers of food dyes!
Thanks for the facts Ty I’m glad that I live and work in the EU and Switzerland where we have the choice to pick foods with or without such carcinogenic additives but I’m worried that the UK might follow the US down a path of covering up the labelling laws after Brexit. I remember when I was growing up we looked to heroes like Ralph Nader to reveal the ill effects of US big business I think you have now taken up his mantel god knows the FDA and US government won’t or can’t improve things.
Judy, I had same exact thing happen with my kids!!!! They would go into a rage and also be bouncing off the walls. When k tried to tell other mothers whose kids had behavioral issues and poor, artificially colored diets I was met with either blank stare or eye roll. I kept them away from dyes as much as possible but it is in unsuspecting things and impossible when they go to parties, etc. I’m glad I’m not the only mother who experienced this. And really, what I don’t understand, is why does food have to contain so much color, anyway?? Sometimes it looks freakishly over colored. And dog food??? Really? Dogs see in black and white…..they don’t care about color. Heck, my dog will eat goose poop for crying out loud!!!
Great article! Thank you for your ongoing hard work. You are turning your tragedy into triumph every day for many of us. . On a personal level, I do my very best to avoid artificial colors since I discovered a very long time ago that I just did not feel well after consuming colorful products. Sometimes when we do not feel well, it is worth the extra time to review our intake of foods and beverages.
What are the Immune system tumors you are referring to in this article please?
Amaranth is the only red that is safe, derived from a plant that is also a great food similar to quinoa.
You can buy hemp. It is a form of Cannabis, but without the THC. That is the ingredient that makes you high. It is legal in all 50 States. Just look up hemp on the internet. I do not know how good it works as I just ordered some the other day and have not received it yet.
It’s all about light signaling int he body
Thank you for this article. We are in the process of cleaning out our pantry because my son has developed involuntary tics and movements. When he was a toddler, my pediatrician suggested I remove a few things from his diet to see if his double blinking was affected. Within a week, the blinking subsided. Now that he’s 9, more colors have seemed to affect him and sadly some of those things are considered “natural” like: annatto for example. This is considered “natural” and is found in everything from salad dressing to hot dog rolls. I’m shocked at the amount of toxic foods on the shelves of the grocery store.
Compared to a lot of families, we eat pretty healthy but these additives have still caused my son (and us, his parents) a great deal of concern. I can’t imagine the level of toxins the average kid consumes in a day. No wonder we have become such a sick nation.
What brand of mushrooms are you taking
Jocelyn, well-said, I couldn’t agree more. People also need to know that Big Pharma has Hillary Clinton in their pockets. As do the Big Ag companies who push for even greater GMO protections while killing us with herbicides and pesticides. Just look at the donors to the Clinton foundation. It’s a who’s who listing of the biggest, most corrupt companies who want to ensure their profits don’t suffer. A vote for Hillary is a vote against our future health. All the best to you and Ty Bollinger for spreading the word.
Yes!! Right on! Check out the Green Party candidate!
Well I live in Europe where the people I know don’t buy ready prepared meals. Most of us buy organic fruits and vegetables and prepare food from scratch. If you like macaroni with cheese (and I don’t call that a healthy option) it is simple and quick even for a reluctant cook like me to make; I just can’t imagine why anyone would buy it in a packet. There are salad packs in the supermarkets, but why spend five times as much as you would if you bought your salad fresh from the market?
It is far better to give children freshly made juice and fruit for breakfast. Cereals with milk is an awful way to start the day. Give them dried fruit slices such as apple which isn’t too sugary to take to school. Bars, even organic ones, are not really healthy and usually contain far too much sugar.
merci you are the best
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