Food Dye Sleuths
Nutrition, Pediatrics, Neurological Health
Did you know that over 40% of foods marketed toward children in the U.S. contain artificial food dyes? Alarmingly, 94% of people over 2 years old consume Red 40 (De Oliveira, ZB, et. al, 2024). Multiple research studies have shown the harmful effects of artificial food dyes on health; however, they are still in our food system.
Parents need to be ingredient “sleuths” and spot these harmful additives. The Big Food industry is making it trickier for consumers. For example, Red 40 can be labeled “Allura Red” and Blue No. 1 can be labeled “Brilliant Blue.” Food dyes are not just in candy but are hidden in other foods as well, including chips, sauces/condiments, and even pickles!
What does the research say about the health consequences of these food dyes? In May 2024, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health looked at 15 different research studies and concluded that artificial colors are associated with vitamin deficiencies, behavior changes (e.g., hyperactivity), sleep disturbances, and food sensitivities in children.
Another 2023 research article demonstrated that Red 40 causes DNA damage, specifically in the colon. The researchers wrote that the pro-inflammatory effect of Red 40 “leads to dysbiosis and low-grade colonic inflammation in mice.” Red 40 affects the gut because it is metabolized by the gut microbiome. However, Red 40 is not the only culprit for cognitive, behavioral, and metabolic disruptions. These recent research studies are helpful for building the case against ALL food dyes on a national level.
Thankfully, you can avoid food dyes in some simple ways. Any product labeled “organic” will not contain any artificial food colors/dyes. Some grocery stores do not carry any food with artificial color, offering alternatives to common treats. Also, some companies make dye-free sprinkles or other confectionaries for special occasions or holidays.
In my experience, it does not take a whole cupcake with brightly colored frosting to cause the harmful effects of food dyes; for some children, a single bite can have symptoms that last 24–48 hours. Symptoms of food dye intolerance in children can look like explosive/aggressive behavior, mood swings, irritability, crying, and sleep problems. At Sanctuary Functional Medicine, we help families decipher if food sensitivities or intolerance are contributing to their child’s health issues. We help guide families as they make changes in their child’s diet while addressing underlying root causes.
But with a little searching and ingredient substitutes, your child can still have their birthday cake and eat it too!
Sunny Austin, FNP-C
Citations:
De Oliveira ZB, Silva da Costa DV, da Silva Dos Santos AC, da Silva Júnior AQ, de Lima Silva A, de Santana RCF, Costa ICG, de Sousa Ramos SF, Padilla G, da Silva SKR. Synthetic Colors in Food: A Warning for Children’s Health. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 May 27;21(6):682. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21060682. PMID: 38928929; PMCID: PMC11203549.
Zhang Q, Chumanevich AA, Nguyen I, Chumanevich AA, Sartawi N, Hogan J, Khazan M, Harris Q, Massey B, Chatzistamou I, Buckhaults PJ, Banister CE, Wirth M, Hebert JR, Murphy EA, Hofseth LJ. The synthetic food dye, Red 40, causes DNA damage, causes colonic inflammation, and impacts the microbiome in mice. Toxicol Rep. 2023 Sep 6;11:221-232. doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.08.006. PMID: 37719200; PMCID: PMC10502305.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
