The Risk of Food Dyes
Food Dyes are not as harmful as the foods they color.
Forty ice cream companies have agreed to phase out the use of artificial food dyes over the next few years. They’ve stated that the dyes are safe, and they are taking this step only to avoid disruption of sales as bans go into effect. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has banned several food dyes in the last year.
When artificial food dyes are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they have to be deemed safe. Increasingly, concerns have been raised about the actual safety of some of these dyes. Remember, not everything artificial is harmful, and not everything natural is safe. I would rather have a bowl of barley sweetened with saccharin than a natural cigarette. (I don’t use saccharin, if you’re wondering.)
Numerous studies have been conducted on artificial dyes. Some suggest harm in children, causing attention deficit and other behavioral issues. This is a review article, and I’ve looked at several of the studies they describe. Observational studies, where researchers observe what children eat without intervening, have several problems. This review article excluded such studies. The reason observation is inadequate is that food dyes are often found in foods that also have other risks. Most food dyes are in sweets, cereals, pastries, and sweetened beverages. Presumably, the dyes are added to make the foods more appealing. I wonder if they really help. If we eliminated the colors from Lucky Charms marshmallows, would kids still eat them? If blueberry ice cream weren’t as blue, would adults still eat it? I think so.
The review article stated that approximately half of the studies examined showed an increased risk of hyperactivity and similar symptoms. Yes, that sounds significant, but I’m not entirely convinced. Remember that there can be a publication bias. Any study that showed an increased risk is likely to be published. Studies that showed no risk may be less likely to be published. Even if that were not a problem, if only half of the studies showed risk and half did not, what does that tell you? It suggests to me that the risk is not that high. I would expect that nearly all smoking studies show significant dangers of smoking.
I am not saying that we shouldn’t ban artificial dyes. I think we should. They have no benefit to our health, may cause harm, and, worst of all, encourage people to eat food that definitely causes harm. As I mentioned, artificial (and sometimes natural) dyes are commonly found in sugar-sweetened foods. I have never heard of artificial dyes being put in unprocessed food. If you buy plain Greek yogurt, you won’t ever find red dye #3. You won’t find artificial dye in broccoli or steel-cut oats.
Ultraprocessed food and food with added sugar cause significant harm. Some have blamed obesity on food dyes, but we know that added sugar and high-carbohydrate foods can lead to obesity, yet these foods aren’t banned. I don’t care if the Twinkie contains artificial dye or not. (It does.) I don’t eat Twinkies because of all the other crap in them.
Similarly, banning food dyes may lower the risk of attention deficit because fewer kids will eat ultraprocessed foods, which are clearly linked to an increased risk of attention deficit.
Food dyes may cause harm. There are studies suggesting that they may increase cancer risk and other serious medical problems. But the most significant medical problem in the United States is obesity. Take a look around and see how many children are overweight. It contributes to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, pulmonary disease, mental disorders, and chronic pain. That is not from food dyes. It is at least partly due to junk food. I have two books that address the topic. Read my books for details: The Three Rules to Lose Weight and Keep It Off Forever and The Six Rules for a Longer, Healthier Life. The risk of food dyes is small compared to the risk of obesity. Maintaining a normal body weight is crucial for improving your overall health.