Food Dyes-Part 2

Lets Dive Right in.

Let’s dive right in.

There are many foods, drinks, and snacks that are marketed usually bright colors to attract kids and consumers. These dyes, as mentioned in our previous post can create behavioral changes as well as hyperactivity. Unfortunately that’s not all, as they have been linked to many different types of cancers as well.

As Easter approaches and school parties occur, we are sharing this info about food dyes so you can make the informed decisions for your families. Many times there are alternative options that do NOT contain these harmful dyes.

Below are some items that contain these dyes to make them a certain color. In no way is this an extensive list, but some examples to get you thinking and hopefully encourage you to red your ingredient labels of the candies, drinks, cereals, snacks, and even medications you are purchasing.

Red 40 - skittles, jolly ranchers, m&ms, starburst, frostings, yogurts, BBQ sauces, Coca Cola, Dr. Pepper, Seven Up, Gatorade, Hawaiian Punch, Pepsi, in some ketchups and dips to add red color.

Red 3 - pink and lavender colored peeps, drinks with strawberry flavors (Nesquik, Pediasure, Ensure, and Yoo-hoo), candy corn, hot tomales, PEZ candies, sixlets, Fruit by the Foot, Ringpop, Double Bubble Gum, some fruit flavored yogurts, pastries, cookies with frosting, toaster pastries, Jolly Ranchers.

Yellow 5 - toaster strudels, some pie crusts, peeps, air heads, jolly ranchers, skittles, nerds, m&ms, lemon head, some chips, some pickles, some honey, some yogurts, some mustards, Doritos, Ruffles, Cheetos, cookies with yellow frosting, Mountain Dew, Sunny D, Kool-Aid Jammers, Gatorade, Powerade, Cap’N Crunch Cereal.

Yellow 6 - In some cereals, jellies, frostings, beverages, sausages, cosmetic products, and drugs. Also known as “sunset yellow” and used for a yellow-orange color that can also be paired with the yellow dye 5 above.

Green 3 - some canned peas, some puddings, some processed vegetables, some dessert powders, some ice cream, also known as (FD&C Green No. 3, Green 1724, Solid Green FCF, and C.I. 42053).

Blue 1 — Skittles, m&ms, some mouthwash, some puddings, frostings, desserts, jello, ice cream, jellies, Powerade, Gatorade, other sports drinks, also called “brilliant blue.”

Blue 2 - energy drinks, sports drinks, some cereals, some ice cream, some medicine, Skittles, m&ms, also called "indigotine.”

Check out some of these products for healthier swaps to some of your favorite treats.

As always, we hope to educate you so that you feel empowered to make the best decision for your families’ health.