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Some of the most vividly colored foods from grocery stores tend to be baked goods, candies, cereals, beverages, and snacks. These also happen to be the foods that are most often marketed towards and consumed by our children.
Brands know that bright colors draw kids in…forcing parents to buy them (to end the begging – we get it!) and the cycle repeats itself! To get these bright colors, many of the foods in grocery stores are colored with artificial food dyes.
And we’re sure you’ve heard the controversies around those!
Some people demand artificial food dyes be banned, some think those people are overreacting, and our governments are telling us they’re safe to eat on a daily basis – but what does the research actually say?
We’re here to break all of that down so you don’t have to. Plus, we give you a clear answer as to their safety when consumed by our children – including babies.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- There are two types of food dyes: natural and artificial.
- The main reason why food dyes are so heavily present in store-bought foods is due to consumer expectations. We need to change the way we expect foods to be presented, starting with our children.
- Concerns with artificial food dye safety are in regards to hyperactivity and behavioral issues in children, toxicity, and possible allergic reactions.
- We recommend avoiding artificial food dyes for babies and avoiding or limiting them in children.
- Making natural food dyes at home is a healthier alternative and a fun way to get your children involved and excited to be in the kitchen!
Table of Contents
What are food dyes?
Food colorants are pigments, dyes, or other substances that are added to food for the sole purpose of adding or enhancing their color. Dyes make food and other products more appealing, attractive, and enticing to consumers.
Even though our foods today are brighter than ever before, food dyes are anything but new. There are two different types of food dyes that are used as ingredients in our food: natural and artificial.
Natural food dyes
Natural food dyes are pigments and dyes from animals, vegetables, and minerals. They have been used since ancient times, dating back to 300 BC (1).
Examples of natural food dyes include:
- Annatto (extract derived from seeds)
- Dehydrated beets or beet juice
- Carmine (red color extracted from insects)
- Beta-carotene (plant pigment)
- Turmeric (deep orange/yellow spice)
- Grape skin extract
Artificial food dyes
Artificial or synthetic dyes were discovered in the mid-1800s, and today are widely used in food, drugs, and cosmetics (1). Artificial food colors are synthetically produced from petroleum (2,3).
Artificial food dyes have been the preferred way to color food as opposed to natural food dyes because they are inexpensive, provide a good uniform color, and are stable when heated. Thousands of foods on the market today use artificial dyes to color them (4).
Examples of common artificial food dyes include:
- Red 40
- Yellow 5
- Yellow 6
These three artificial food dyes account for 90% of the food dyes used in the market today (5).
Food for thought...
Food for thought...
Artificial food dyes have zero nutritional benefits. The main reason why food dyes are so heavily present in store-bought foods is due to consumer expectations.
Food dyes make food products more appealing by enhancing their colors. If we learned to be okay with foods appearing as they naturally should, and this was our “new normal”, artificial food dyes would become obsolete.
We need to change the way we expect foods to be presented, starting with our children. Teach your children that food comes in all different shapes, sizes, and colors.
At the table or when cooking, comment on the different shades of food. Cut fruits and vegetables into fun shapes with cookie cutters. Have fun playing with the natural food colors that we will be going over in this blog.
Finally, teach your children that the nutrition, ripeness, and flavor of food are not tied to how bright the color is alone. Instead, teach them that there are other factors to look at when considering the ripeness of a product.
Teach them that while eating cereal the color of the rainbow may look fun, it’s not actually what provides the taste they love. If those colors were slightly less bright it would still taste the same. Try taste tests and experiments to see if they can tell the difference!
Foods that contain food dyes
Artificial food dyes are found in thousands of foods in grocery stores around the world, especially in processed foods.
Food dyes most often consumed by children are found in soft drinks and sugar-based confectionery (6). Unfortunately, food dyes are often used to create bright and enticing food products made for and marketed specifically towards children.
Common foods that contain artificial food dyes are:
- Bakery foods
- Desserts
- Cereals (e.g., Trix, Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, Kellogg’s Fruit Loops)
- Candy
- Ice cream
- Beverages
- Condiments
- Some salad dressings such as Kraft Thousand Island Dressing
- Snack foods
- Some packaged applesauce
- Some flavored yogurts
It’s important to note that artificial dyes are also often found in children’s vitamins and medicine, such as Children’s Tylenol. However, more brands are beginning to offer dye-free options alongside traditional colored varieties, such as dye-free Children’s Tylenol.
Location matters...
Location matters...
Something to consider is the location you live in. The same food product may contain artificial food dye in one country but contain natural food color in another country. This depends on food dye regulations where you live.
For example, Froot Loops sold in Europe may be created using natural food dyes, while Fruit Loops sold in the US may be colored artificially.
There has been a shift in recent years in consumer demand for food products to be made with natural food colors. This has caused more companies to use fruit and vegetable extracts to replace artificial food colors. More natural options are becoming available for families to choose from as manufacturing companies are starting to listen.
Are food dyes safe for babies?
Governing bodies state that most children are not affected by artificial food dye consumption.
That said, there are some health and safety concerns based on the research, especially because children are more vulnerable to the negative effects of artificial dyes than adults are.
Food dyes are also often used as an ingredient in processed and highly processed foods that include added salt and sugar, which is best avoided in babies and young toddlers.
Therefore, our preference is to avoid artificial food dyes for babies and avoid or limit artificial food dyes for children.
Keep reading for our full recommendation plus the research and details to back it up.
Health risks of artificial food dyes
Summary of the research
- Research suggests that artificial food colors do seem to promote hyperactivity in some children with and without previous ADHD diagnoses. This is the main concern with artificial food dyes.
- More research is needed to understand if there is a link between artificial food dyes and cancer. There are some studies in animals showing tumor growth with high doses of food dyes, although it’s hard to translate this to kids and the research has severe limitations in being able to draw conclusions.
- True allergic reactions to artificial and natural food dyes are low (6). However, more research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of adverse reactions to food dyes in children as evidence is inconsistent, especially with natural food dyes.
- Red dye No. 40 has been linked to possible allergic reactions, negative behavioral effects in children, and contains carcinogens in low doses that have been deemed to have a “reasonable certainty of no harm” to our health by the FDA.
My Little Eater
Recommendation
Recommendation
Based on the most up-to-date research, we recommend avoiding artificial food dyes for babies and avoiding or limiting artificial food dyes for children because of possible health concerns, specifically their potential to negatively affect children’s behavior and ability to learn.
Children are more vulnerable to the negative effects of food dyes than adults, therefore avoiding processed foods that contain artificial food dyes will help protect them and set them up for success!
If you’d like to read more about possible health and safety concerns, we’ve broken down each concern below, diving heavily into the scientific research.
Hyperactivity and behavioral issues in children
One of the major concerns regarding the safety of artificial food dyes has been hyperactivity and behavioral issues in children. There have been a number of studies focusing on artificial food colors and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
These studies suggest that artificial food colors do seem to promote hyperactivity in some children with and without previous ADHD diagnoses (3,7).
It was first suggested in the 1970s that artificial food colors may cause hyperactivity in children. This concern was made greater by the fact that most products containing food dye are marketed to and consumed by children.
Additionally, younger children may be more susceptible to their harmful effects (8). Children’s organs and metabolic and detoxification systems are still developing and maturing, causing them to be vulnerable to food dyes as they can’t eliminate them from their system as quickly as adults (8).
Several studies have evaluated food dye consumption and its potential neurobehavioral impact on children. The most up-to-date evidence shows a relationship between food dye and adverse behaviors in some children (with AND without previous behavior disorders) (3). One study found that around 8% of children who have an ADHD diagnosis may have symptoms that are related to artificial food colors (9).
Symptoms from artificial food dyes in children include inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, irritability, and sleep problems (3).
Some research suggests that restricting food dyes in children’s diets helps to improve ADHD symptoms in up to 30% of children with ADHD (9).
Why the current guidelines are criticized
Governments regulate the levels of artificial dyes in food, stating that the amounts allowed are at “safe levels”. However, these safe exposure levels may not be adequate to protect the neurobehavior of children who are sensitive to the negative effects of food dyes.
Research has found that many of the negative effects on children were seen with levels of food dye both above and below the US FDA limits (7).
We also have to consider that food dye levels have increased fivefold between 1950 and 2012 (8). Food dyes are also found in many children’s medicines and vitamins which add to their exposure (7,10).
Do certain dyes impact behavior more than others?
Some research has studied single food dyes like yellow dye No. 5 and red dye No. 40 and has found evidence that these dyes alone negatively affect children’s behavior and cognitive performance (7).
Most studies look at the effect of multiple dyes, so it’s hard to say if some dyes are more impactful than others. However, the exposure to various dyes is likely most reflective of real-life scenarios, where children are exposed to a variety of food dyes daily from processed foods targeted to children (7).
More research is needed to understand at what age food dyes may be introduced with no or less effect. Studies often assess children between 2 and 19 years of age, making it hard to distinguish if the negative effects lessen with increasing age.
Cancer risk and food dyes
Reviews of the research indicate that some artificial food dyes may cause tumor growth in animals (mice and rats) consuming high doses. That said, food dyes are regulated and are found in low and presumably safe levels in food as per the FDA and other governing bodies (4).
The safety levels set by the FDA for food dyes ensure that food dyes do not pose a risk of causing more than one cancer in one million people consuming artificial food dyes (5).
There have been multiple studies on food dyes in mice and rats, although most have severe limitations hindering the ability to draw conclusions. It’s argued that the safe levels set by the FDA were set at levels of artificial food dyes consumed in the 1990s. Food dye usage has increased considerably since then. They also did not consider children who are at an increased risk, are more sensitive to carcinogens, and consume more dye per unit of body weight than adults.
It’s also argued that the tests for carcinogens done by the FDA only detect “free contaminants” and not “bound contaminants/carcinogens” which may go undetected. Finally, many of the studies were conducted by food dye manufacturers, so biases could have influenced the results (5).
Food dye allergies in children
Artificial food color allergies
Allergic reactions to artificial food colors are rare, occurring in an estimated 1 to 2% of healthy children (11). However, reactions occur at slightly higher rates in children with atopic conditions such as dermatitis or asthma (2 to 7%) (6,12).
Reactions to artificial food colors are classified as either intolerances or sensitivities. Symptoms in response to artificial food colors are often less severe than those from a true food allergy. Artificial food dyes have been linked to severe itchiness in some kids who are hypersensitive to certain food colors (6).
A true allergic reaction can only be triggered by a protein. Therefore, allergic reactions to artificial food colors alone do not occur as artificial food colors are chemicals, not proteins (4,6).
That said, some artificial food colors can work as haptens. These are chemicals that can bind to proteins, causing them to become a potential allergen. They can therefore cause an immune response and a true allergic reaction to occur (6,13).
Reactions to food colors have been found with tartrazine (FD&C Yellow #5), sunset yellow, amaranth (FD&C Red No. 2), erythrosine (Red No. 3), Citrus Red, Red No. 40, patent blue, and indigo. Reactions in children to these dyes include asthma, anaphylaxis, atopic dermatitis, swelling, and urticaria (itching) (6, 11).
Symptoms are most often mild and are rarely anaphylaxis (11).
If your baby or toddler has a reaction to a food containing artificial food dye, make an appointment with your doctor to confirm an allergy and determine the next steps.
Natural food color allergies
While there is limited research to conclude the true prevalence of allergic reactions to natural food colors, the occurrence of a true allergy seems to be very low in children (6,14).
Some of the natural food colors that may cause allergic reactions are carmine, saffron, and annatto (6,14). Symptoms may include itchiness, swelling, dermatitis, asthma, and anaphylaxis (6,14).
Additionally, some spices, including turmeric, saffron, and paprika, can cause symptoms of an allergic reaction, specifically in people who are already sensitive to mugwort and birch pollen (6,14).
Safety of red dye no. 40 for children
Red dye No. 40 is the most prevalent food dye in terms of pounds consumed (5,15,16). It’s also one of the most debated food dyes on the market and you may have seen advances and pressure on regulating bodies to ban this food dye in our children’s foods. This is because of its potential to harm a child’s ability to learn due to its link to behavioral difficulties and decreased attention.
Since this dye is so prevalent in foods, and often comes up in the news, you understandably may feel confused and uncertain about offering your child foods with this specific dye in them.
Let’s break down the safety concerns so you can make an informed decision that’s best for your family.
Allergic reactions: Red dye No. 40 has been found to cause possible allergic reactions. However, symptoms are most often mild and are rarely anaphylaxis (11).
Hyperactivity/behavior: Red dye No. 40 has been linked to negative behavioral effects in children (7).
In rats administered red dye No. 40, one study found increased memory errors and negative impacts on cognitive performance (7). This was due to the impact on the prefrontal cortex which is involved in spatial memory, decision-making, and attention (7). However, interpretation of these results to humans is difficult.
Red dye No. 40 is one of the food dyes that is required by the European Union to list a warning on the product label that states: “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
Toxicology: Red dye No. 40 has been found to contain benzidine or other carcinogens (5). Benzene is a known cancer-causing agent (17).
It’s argued that the small amount of benzene found in dyes does not pose a health risk (7,17). The FDA further states that there is a “reasonable certainty of no harm” to human health from Red dye No. 40 (18).
Common products containing red dye No. 40
Red dye No. 40 can be found in:
- Candy
- Soft drinks
- Gelatin desserts
- Cakes and frosting
- Pastries
- Cereal
- Yogurt
- Pudding
- Ice cream and popsicles
- Sports drinks
- Salty snack foods (17).
To know if a product has red dye No. 40, check the product label on the back and look for red dye no. 40, Allura red, Allura red AC dye, or FD&C Red #40. If the product does not contain food dye, the front of the product label may state “no artificial colors”.
Safe alternatives to red dye No. 40
To avoid red dye No. 40, it’s helpful to read ingredient lists and look for food products containing natural food dyes from fruits or vegetables. Some natural food dye alternatives to red dye No. 40 to watch for on an ingredient list, or to use when baking at home, include:
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Beet juice or powder
- Blueberries
- Pomegranates
- Beta-carotene
Natural alternatives to artificial food dyes
Did you know you can use everyday household ingredients to create vivid food dyes? We’ve created a guide for you on how to make food colors to match the colors of the rainbow!
In addition to allowing you to avoid artificial food dyes, making natural food dyes is a fun way to include your child in the kitchen and have them excited to get cookin’!
Here is our list of foods to create natural dyes for each color of the rainbow:
Red: Freeze-dried strawberry/raspberry powder, fresh/frozen strawberries/raspberries, or beets (juice/powder)
Orange: Turmeric (lots)
Yellow: Turmeric (a little)
Green: Spinach powder or blended spinach with water
Blue: Blueberries or red cabbage + baking soda (it doesn’t leave a cabbage taste – no need to worry about cabbage-flavored frosting!)
Purple: Blueberries, cabbage, blackberries, or beets
Once you pick which colors you’d like to make, follow our step-by-step instructions below to create your natural food dyes!
How to make natural food colorings at home
Berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, pitted cherries)
Method 1
- Mash fresh berries and strain the liquid into a bowl. Retain the juice to use as coloring (add with a dropper or tsp to control the color).
Method 2
- Add fresh or frozen berries to a cheesecloth or muslin cloth, twist, and squeeze out the juice into a bowl.
Method 3
- Add 2 cups of berries and ¼ cup of water to a pot.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool.
- Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. The fresh juice will give a more delicate light color. For a more intense shade/color, return the liquid to the saucepan and simmer until the liquid is reduced to ½ or ¼ of the original volume.
Method 4
- Add fresh or frozen berries to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Strain through a fine sieve or mesh cloth into a bowl. Retain the juice.
Beets
- Grate raw beets and add them to a cheesecloth or muslin cloth. Squeeze the juice out.
- For a deeper color, use the juice of grated, roasted beets.
- A little bit of color from beets goes a long way. Beets shouldn’t provide a beet-flavored food product, but they may offer a bit of a sweet flavor depending on how much you use!
- Beware…beets stain!
Red cabbage
- Chop ¼ head of red cabbage and add it to a saucepan with 1 cup of boiling water.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for approximately 20 minutes.
- Next, strain or lift out the cabbage pieces (discard) and retain the water. Use the water for purple food coloring.
- Alternatively, stir 1 tsp of baking soda into the purple liquid to turn it blue. Boil to reduce it to about half of its original volume or more for a deeper blue color.
- Let this cool and use it as a blue food dye.
Spinach or kale
- Blend spinach or kale in a blender or food processor.
- Strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve or muslin cloth, and use the remaining juice for a green food dye.
Turmeric
- You can use ground turmeric powder as is for food coloring. A small amount of ground turmeric goes a long way in adding color and shouldn’t affect the taste of your recipe. If you add a lot of turmeric powder, you may notice a small amount of flavor from it.
- Alternatively, you can add 1/2 tsp of turmeric spice to 4 cups of water in a pot. Bring to a boil and let simmer until it’s reduced to half the original volume or a thick paste. Let cool.
- Depending on how much turmeric is used, this will provide a yellow to orange food color.
- Beware…turmeric stains!
Top Tips!
- Store the prepared food coloring in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. Or store it in the freezer for up to one month in ice cube trays – defrost before using.
- Don’t throw away the leftover fruit pulp! Add it to your baby’s food such as their oatmeal, yogurt, or a smoothie for added fiber and other nutrients!
- When making food dyes or using them with baking, put on an apron to protect your clothing and skin. If your child is helping out in the kitchen, you can use an arm-length bib to protect their skin. Check out the amazing Neferland bibs here, and use our code littleeater at checkout for 15% off your order!
- Some food dyes stain more than others, like beets and turmeric. They’ll even stain your skin! Don’t worry, it’s not harmful, but it may take a day or so to come off.
Benefits of using natural food dyes
The main benefit is pretty clear…it replaces the need to use artificial food dyes! But – there are a couple more benefits to consider as well.
Possible health benefits
Many natural food dyes from fruits and vegetables have possible health benefits including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it’s hard to determine if the small amount used as food coloring will provide nutritional value at a level that affects human health.
For example, turmeric is well known for its treatment of various chronic conditions and is beneficial for inflammation, pain, digestive disorders, and wound healing. However, turmeric has poor bioavailability (it’s not well absorbed and used by our body), making it difficult to determine its efficacy with the small amounts we use in homemade dyes (19).
Positive impact on picky toddlers
Toddlers are in a developmental stage where they are prioritizing learning, exploring, and mastering new skills. So much so that this takes precedence over eating! This can lead to a very common picky eating phase.
What can help in this stage is making the eating experience new, unconventional, and exciting to increase their interest in the eating process by tapping into their natural desire to explore.
Novelty and food play are some of the best ways to do this and natural food dyes are one tool you can use to increase your toddler’s interest in eating – plus it can be fun for both of you!
In addition to a range of novelty feeding tools and ideas covered in our feeding toddlers course, you and your toddler can create an array of colors that can help when things get just a little boring by enticing them to explore foods they may have previously rejected!
If your toddler is refusing different foods, the key is exposure and keeping things positive and fun! Visual exposure and touching food are the first steps in helping them to accept it.
Activities to try using natural food dyes
- Finger painting
- Rainbow rice sensory bin
- Rainbow pasta sensory play
- Dye uncooked beans such as chickpeas for sensory play
- Dye uncooked oats for a sensory bin
- Use raw fruits and vegetables with food dyes to stamp and draw
- Try being a colorful cauliflower/broccoli artist. Cauliflower is white so it’s a perfect canvas for different food colors. Encourage your toddler to dip a cooked or raw broccoli or cauliflower floret in a fun colored dye to “stamp” paper and make a photo. Even though they’re not eating the broccoli or cauliflower, they’re getting exposure to it in a fun way and touching it to their skin, which is the first step to eventually eating it!
The key here is keeping it fun and lighthearted with no pressure to eat the food. Your toddler will become interested in exploring, creating positive exposure as a step towards eating a diverse diet.
Find more activities to try with your toddler in our blog on sensory play with food.
Issues with using natural food dyes
The main issue with using natural food dye is when baking or heating. Natural food dyes are often not stable when heating and the color will most likely change and not last through the baking process. You may start with a bright red color, but the finished baked product may be brown.
Also, some leavening agents can interact with natural food colors and affect the finished texture.
For these reasons, we recommend using natural food dyes for items not baked, such as with frosting on a cake or cupcakes. You can also add food dyes to already-cooked foods like cooked pasta.
Dietitian-approved store-bought food dye options
We know that not everyone has the time or desire to make homemade food dyes and use them in their baking, etc. So we looked around for products on the market that use natural food coloring that would be good options for babies or toddlers.
As always, there’s no judgement from us no matter what you decide. If you’re okay with using products that contain artificial food coloring, that’s okay! We’re here to provide you with options so that you can make the decision that’s best for your family.
Sprinkles
Sprinkles are commonly used to decorate children’s treats, including birthday cakes, cookies, and cupcakes. They are a fun part of baking in the kitchen with your toddler, although unfortunately, most sprinkles are colored with artificial food dyes. Luckily, we found a few that use natural food colors!
It’s important to note that these sprinkles often contain sugar as the first ingredient which we recommend avoiding or limiting until 2 years of age. If you do choose to offer them before then, you’ll also want to be mindful of the size and shape because some are choking hazards, like the sprinkles that are little round balls.
Supernatural Crystal Clear Twinkles
Supernatural sprinkles are vegan, non-GMO, soy-free, and contain no artificial colors! Use these sparkly crystal-type sprinkles to decorate your baking!
Supernatural Crystal Clear Twinkles
Supernatural sprinkles are vegan, non-GMO, soy-free, and contain no artificial colors! Use these sparkly crystal-type sprinkles to decorate your baking!
India Tree Nature’s Colors Sprinkles
India Tree Nature’s Colors Sprinkles are colored with vegetables and spices and do not use artificial food colors.
India Tree Nature’s Colors Sprinkles
India Tree Nature’s Colors Sprinkles are colored with vegetables and spices and do not use artificial food colors.
Note: Not all India Tree sprinkles use natural food dyes. Some of their sprinkles use artificial food dyes, although all of India Tree’s Nature’s Colors line of sprinkles are colored naturally. Be sure to read the labels before purchasing!
Watkins Sprinkles
Watkins Sprinkles use vegetable juices and spices for color as opposed to artificial food colors. These sprinkles are also non-GMO certified and gluten-free. They offer many different sprinkles and decorating sugars.
Watkins Sprinkles
Watkins Sprinkles use vegetable juices and spices for color as opposed to artificial food colors. These sprinkles are also non-GMO certified and gluten-free. They offer many different sprinkles and decorating sugars.
Food coloring drops or powders
Supernatural Food Color Powders
Supernatural food color powders contain no artificial dyes, are gluten-free, and are plant-based. They offer different color options including pomegranate red, yellow, orange, green, and magic blackberry to create vivid colors! *Does not contain glycerol.
Supernatural Food Color Powders
Supernatural food color powders contain no artificial dyes, are gluten-free, and are plant-based. They offer different color options including pomegranate red, yellow, orange, green, and magic blackberry to create vivid colors! *Does not contain glycerol.
India Tree Nature’s Colors Dye Drops
India Tree natural color drops are colored with vegetable juices and spices. They create vivid colors, even when just a small amount is used. *Contains glycerol.
India Tree Nature’s Colors Dye Drops
India Tree natural color drops are colored with vegetable juices and spices. They create vivid colors, even when just a small amount is used. *Contains glycerol.
Watkins Food Coloring Drops
This food coloring is free of artificial colors and is made with vegetable juices and spices, plus it’s gluten-free! *Contains glycerol.
Watkins Food Coloring Drops
This food coloring is free of artificial colors and is made with vegetable juices and spices, plus it’s gluten-free! *Contains glycerol.
Why worry about glycerol?
Some natural food dye drops use vegetable glycerin as an ingredient, like two of the options above (excuding the powder). Glycerin is generally recognized as safe by the FDA (20). However, glycerol intoxication can happen in children aged ten and under. This is because their smaller bodies cannot break down glycerol as efficiently as adults or older children (21).
Small amounts can be okay for children, but larger amounts can cause diarrhea, bloating, nausea, headache, sickness, and in extreme cases, shock, hypoglycemia, and loss of consciousness (21).
Glycerol intake became a concern with slushies that contained glycerol as an ingredient to create the “slush” effect. Large amounts of slushies consumed by children were seen to cause negative side effects (21).
It was then stated that children aged 4 years and under should not have slushy ice drinks, and children 10 and under should drink no more than 1 slushy at a time (21).
We recommend avoiding natural food dyes with glycerol for children under 4. For children under 10, limit the use of natural food dyes containing glycerol, and pay attention to how much is being used – a little goes a long way!
Regulations and Safety Standards
As mentioned, food colors are highly controlled by regulating health bodies and governments. Many artificial food dyes have been banned in the past because they were found to be harmful to health, including being toxic, carcinogenic, and potentially damaging to DNA.
All food colorants have been tested to ensure their safety for consumers before entering our food. However, there are concerns regarding the safe levels set by governing bodies.
Let’s break down the different artificial food dye regulations below!
FDA regulations on food dyes in the United States
Color additives are tested in the US by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure they are safe. The FDA considers short and long-term health effects, among other considerations, to determine the level of safe consumption. The FDA states that this safety level includes a safety margin and is therefore much lower than what could be expected to cause any health effects (22).
There are nine certified artificial color additives approved for use by the FDA. They are called FD&C color additives, and are as follows:
- FD&C Blue No. 1 and 2
- FD&C Green No. 3
- FD&C Red No. 3 and 40
- FD&C Yellow No. 5 and 6
- Orange B
- Citrus Red No. 2 (1,23).
Because of the limitations in the research, the FDA cannot be certain that there is no risk to the levels approved for use in food products. Instead, they follow the standard that the level of food dye has a “reasonable certainty of no harm” for consumers.
As previously mentioned, it’s challenged that the safe levels of food dyes approved in our food by the FDA are based on old studies that are not appropriate to detect safe levels consumed today and did not assess how they might affect the behavior of children (7).
Safety levels were based on animal toxicology studies (with many limitations) and did not include neurologic or neurobehavioral assessments (8).
How to read ingredient labels for food dyes (US)
In the US, food labels are required to list the names of the FDA-certified food color (23). Look at the label ingredient list for the FDA-certified color additive name (e.g., FD&C Blue No. 1 or the abbreviated name, Blue 1).
An easy way to tell if the product is free from artificial food dyes is to check the front of the package label. If it’s free of dyes, it may state “no artificial food dyes” as an easier way to assess the product. “No artificial food dyes” means that artificial food dyes are either not present in the product, or food coloring considered natural is used instead.
Canadian food dye regulations
In Canada, food colors are regulated and undergo safety pre-market evaluations by the government before allowing their use in foods. The Government of Canada sets maximum allowable levels of use for food colors (24).
Ten synthetic food colors have been allowed in Canada, including (24):
- Allura Red
- Indigotine
- Sunset Yellow FCF
- Tartrazine
- Amaranth
- Erythrosine
- Brilliant Blue FCF
- Fast Green FCF
- Citrus Red No. 2
- Ponceau SX
The Government of Canada conducts targeted surveys to assess food colors in market products to ensure safe levels are being followed. In 2021, they sampled food products (bakery products, beverages, cake mixes, sweets, etc.) across Canada, and found that 8% of the products were non-compliant with Canadian food regulations with food coloring levels exceeding the safe level of use (25).
The non-compliant food products sampled included baking mixes, a fruit roll-up, and cookies (25). This is concerning as these are foods often consumed by children.
How to read ingredient labels for food dyes (Canada)
In 2018, the Government of Canada changed labeling requirements so that coloring agents must be identified on product labels by name so that consumers have more information (with a 5 year transition period).
To check for added artificial food colors, look at the label ingredient list on the back of the product for the color additive name (e.g., Allura red). Some products in Canada state “no artificial food dyes” on the front of packaging as well, like in the US, to alert consumers that no food dyes have been used or only natural food coloring is present.
European food dye regulations
In Europe, food colors are regulated by the European Food Safety Authority to ensure safe levels for consumers (26).
After concerns arose about the effects of food dye on children’s health and behavior, the European Union conducted a review of the most up-to-date research at the time. Following this, they changed their label requirements for food products containing the food dyes tartrazine, Quinoline Yellow, Sunset Yellow, Ponceau 4R, Allura Red, and Carmoisine, requiring them to be labeled with the warning “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children” (27).
How to read ingredient labels for food dyes (Europe)
In Europe, food colors must be indicated on food labels by name and/or their E number (European identification number) (26). Look at the label ingredient list for the color additive name (e.g. E133 Brilliant Blue FCF). Again, products without food coloring or with only natural food coloring may be labelled with “no artificial food dyes” on the front of the packaging.
We hope you feel better equipped to decide what is best for your family with regards to products containing artificial food dyes now that you know the research behind the concerns in the media.
If you’re looking for personalized guidance and one-on-one support with feeding your baby or toddler, book a counselling session with one of our dietitians! Counselling can help troubleshoot feeding concerns such as moving to finger foods, food refusal, picky eating, nutrition or growth concerns, poor mealtime behaviors, excessive gagging/sensory/texture aversions, and more. You can book a one-time Ask Me Anything 30-minute session with a dietitian. Or if you’re looking for further support, you can book one of our more in-depth counselling packages.
If you’re struggling with the feeding journey or don’t know what to do next, book a call and let’s chat! We can help you build confidence in feeding your baby or toddler and have the stress of it all melt away. You’re not in this alone, we’re here to help!
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References
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- Health & Discovery. (2024, May 1). How food dye can affect children. The Ohio State University. Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://health.osu.edu/health/mental-health/food-dye
- Stevens, L, J., Kuczek, T., Burgess, J. R., Stochelski, M. A., Arnold, L. E., & Galland, L. (2013). Mechanisms of behavioural, atopic, and other reactions to artificial food colors in children. Nutrition Reviews, 71(5), 268-281. https://doi.org/10.1111/nure.12023
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- Kobylewski, S., & Jacobson, M. F. (2012). Toxicology of food dyes. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 18(3), 220-246. DOI 10.1179/1077352512Z.00000000034
- Feketea, G., & Tsabouri, S. (2017). Common food colorants and allergic reactions in children: Myth or reality? Food Chemistry, 230(1), 578-588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.03.043
- Miller, M. D., Steinmaus, C., Golub, M. S., Castorina, R., Thilakartne, R., Bradman, A., & Marty, M. A. (2022). Potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children: A review of the human and animal evidence. Enironmental Health, 21(45), doi: 10.1186/s12940-022-00849-9
- Trasande, L., Shaffer, R. M., Sathyanarayana, S., Lowry, J. A., Ahdoot, S., Baum, C. R., Berstein, A. S., Bole, A., Campbell, C. C., Landrigan, P. J., Pacheco, S. E., Spanier, A. J., & Woolf, A. D. (2018). Food additives and child health. Pediatrics, 142(2), https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-1410
- Nigg, J. T., Lewis, K., Edinger, T., & Falk, M. (2015). Meta-analysis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, restriction diet, and synthetic food color additives. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(1), 86-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2011.10.015
- Lehmkuhler, A. L., Miller, M. D., Bradman, A., Castroina, R., & Mitchell, A. E. (2020). Certified food dyes in over the counter medicines and supplements marketed for children and pregnant women. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 143(111499). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2020.111499
- Weisbrod, D. B., Caruana, D. L., Li, D., Wan, L., & Szema, A. M. (2023). A case report of allergic hypersensitivity to color additives in Slurpee beverages. Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 96(1), 79-82. doi: 10.59249/KGFT1011
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- Liu, Z-Q., & Yang, P-C. (2011). Hapten may play an important role in food allergen-related intestinal immune inflammation. North American Journal of Medical Sciences, 3(3), 103-106. doi: 10.4297/najms.2011.3103
- Lemoine, A., Pauliat-Desbordes, S., Challier, P., & Tounian, P. (2020). Adverse reactions to food additives in children: A retrospective study and a prospective survey. Archives de Pediatrie, 27(7), 368-371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcped.2020.07.005
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- Lehmkuhler, A., Miller, M. D., Bradman, A., Castorina, R., Chen, M-A., Xie, R., & Mitchell, A. E. (2022). Levels of FD&C certified food dyes in foods commonly consumed by children. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 112(104649, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2022.104649
- Cleveland Clinic. (2023, March 8). Is red dye 40 safe? Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/red-dye-40
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- Keith, S. (2020). Turmeric. Potential health benefits. Nutrition Today, 55(1), 45-56. DOI: 10.1097/NT.0000000000000392
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- Government of Canada. (2023, November 3). List of permitted colouring agents (Lists of permitted food additives). Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/food-safety/food-additives/lists-permitted/3-colouring-agents.html
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Jillian Smith, RD
Registered Dietitian at My Little Eater Inc., and dog-mom to River. Jillian works behind the scenes answering nutrition questions and supporting parents of babies and toddlers to feed their little ones with confidence.
She offers parents one-on-one support through 30 minute Ask Me Anything sessions, click below to schedule your call!
Jillian Smith, RD
Registered Dietitian at My Little Eater Inc., and dog-mom to River. Jillian works behind the scenes answering nutrition questions and supporting parents of babies and toddlers to feed their little ones with confidence.
She offers parents one-on-one support through 30 minute Ask Me Anything sessions, click below to schedule your call!
