Find out what food you buy regularly that contains artificial colors and flavors
Why This is Green
Just because something is approved by the FDA doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Take artificial colors and flavors. Blue ice cream is government approved, but studies have revealed a traceable link between artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and a range of attention and behavior disorders in children, including ADHD, hyperactivity, allergies, asthma, and migraines.
Both the European Union's Environment Agency and Britain's Food Standards Agency have begun to require the removal of the dyes from children’s food. American companies have responded by removing the colors from their European products--including Kraft Mac-N-Cheese and Starburst candy—but not from the American versions. True story.
Avoiding or significantly reducing consumption of artificial colors and flavors may result in health or behavior improvements for kids and adults alike. It will also increase your consumption of fresh foods—always a good thing.
Learn More
- PracticallyGreen.com: Surprise! There Are Parabens (And Other Additives) In My Children’s Medications
- Center For Science In The Public Interest: Food Dyes And Behavior Report Form
- PracticallyGreen.com: Artificial Colors And Ingredients In Your Food? Non-Toxic Pro Has Answers
- Center For Science In The Public Interest: Summary Of The Safety Of Food Additives
- Los Angeles Times: FDA Advisors Recommend More Study Of Food Dyes
- Feingold.org: Artificial Colors, Sweeteners And Preservatives
- Daily Mail: Government To Ban Six Food Additives Linked To Child Hyperactivity
- Helium.com: Do Artificial Flavors And Artificial Colors Affect Your Child's Behavior?
How To
Read the ingredient lists on the foods in your house. Look out for any color followed by a number (e.g. Blue 1 or Yellow No.6). Of particular concern are Yellow No.5, Blue No.2, and Red No.3.
Finding artificial flavors isn’t as clear-cut. The Center for Science in the Public Interest maintains a useful chart of additives (see link below). You can also tend to taste when something is artificial.
Generally speaking, you want your ingredient list to be short. Long lists tend to involve many different additives, many of which are artificial. Remember author Michael Pollan's excellent advice: "Don’t eat anything with more than five ingredients, or ingredients you can't pronounce."
