Are food dyes safe?
Fact Box
- In the United States, most food dyes, or color additives, are strictly regulated by the FDA with the exception of synthetic organic dyes.
- Artificial food dyes are human-made using chemical ingredients. Natural food dyes are processed ingredients derived from plants, vegetables, minerals, and animals.
- In 2011, the FDA asserted that there is no significant evidence that links food coloring to ADHD.
- A “Toxicology of food dyes” study found all nine of the US-approved food dyes tested posed health concerns. For example, some caused cancer and hypersensitivity reactions; others were found to be contaminated with benzidine or other carcinogens.
Luke (No)
To start, synthetic food dyes are food additives whose sole purpose in coloring our food is to increase sales, that is, artificial coloring exists for marketing. Undeniably, synthetic food dyes do not contain any nutritional value, and therefore, any risks associated with synthetic food dyes are completely unnecessary.
In light of this, the fact is that these artificial dyes have been linked directly to allergies in various patients and hyperactivity within children. The adverse health effects from synthetic dyes do not end there as it has also been found that the human body breaks down these dyes into components known to cause cancer. Ultimately, it is well known that consuming unnatural products, such as artificial dyes, leads to a myriad of health issues as the human body has not evolved to consume these human-made additives. Due to findings such as these, in 2023, the state of California became the first US state to completely ban the use of synthetic dyes in food products.
A major consideration on the ethics behind this discussion is the utter lack of transparency from manufacturers when it comes to these issues. Consider Snapple's 'all natural' claim which it has been sued over repeatedly. While it may be that the FDA and the US court system consistently sides with companies misleading the public, where food dyes are harmless, there would be no need for synthetic food dye manufacturers to use misleading language to sell their products.
In short, synthetic food dyes are unnecessary, only existing to increase profits of companies, and increasingly known to be dangerous for human consumption.
Mark (Yes)
The fact that food dye has been present in assorted foods for decades, should be enough to imply its safety. Everything from candy to soft drinks have incorporated food dyes into their products and to this day they remain. Both the FDA and the EFCA have determined through animal testing that food dyes have no harmful properties. That is to say that the two most trusted institutions in food and drink safety have found absolutely no danger in food coloring additives. Food dye is simply a harmless and fun way to give certain foods added distinction.
The FDA imposes strict guidelines when it comes to the amount of dye used in foods. They have gone to great lengths to ensure the public that there is no risk when it comes to consuming products that contain dye. As with most foods, portion control is up to the consumer, but time and time again, food dyes have shown no correlation to major health risks. There has been absolutely no evidence to suggest that food dyes can lead to cancer or any other serious conditions. Every concern surrounding food dyes has been either unfounded or completely disproven.
While some have voiced concerns over how safe food dyes are for children, no definitive evidence exists to support this. There has been no proven correlation between food dyes and hyperactivity in children. Food dyes are something used to subtly enhance our snacking and dining experience. As long as the guidelines are followed, there is no reason to label food dyes as dangerous or toxic. They’re just here to make life a little more colorful.
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