That Pretty Synthetic Dye in Red Gummies aka FD&C Red 40

This all started when I purchased a bag of those yummy peach rings that are sugar coated and so sweet…yes, I was splurging.  On the front it said all kinds of things to catch my attention like: “Cholesterol Free, Finest Quality, Fresh Natural, and Quality You Can Taste” …very tempting I tell you.  So I get back to my desk, sit down and flip the package over of those sweet smelling yummy gummies to check out the ingredients:

#1 corn syrup (hmmm, it’s not high fructose), #2 sugar (okay, I won’t eat too many), #3 fruit juice (alright – but wait, what kind?)…*keep reading down the list* then I see COLORS.  All these years I never stopped to think about colors being used as an additive to our foods and why would they be added to these delicious gummies, aren’t peaches already tempting enough? 

So I pulled up my browser and began to Google the first color listed: Red 40.  The first thing to pop up is something about Red 40 being made out of crushed ground bugs, beetles from South/Central America.  Not too sure about that one…second search result pops up stating that Red 40 has been linked to ADHD, which is an additive in a lot of medicines, juices, fruit snacks, etc. that we are giving to our children.  This begins my rampage.  Why in the world would the FDA approve Red 40 to be added to our foods when there have been numerous cases of the food dye being linked to hyperactive disorders, depression and negatively affecting the brain. 

Not to mention the other food colorings added to this (used-to-be-yummy-licious) snack: Yellow 5 and Blue 1, which will be discussed in another blog entry.  All three dyes have been banned to use in Europe….why and how is it good for the U.S. to consume then?  When you think about how almost half of what our children eat goes directly to their brain, it really makes you wonder how much of these synthetic chemicals are being consumed on a daily basis and what is the real reason of using these when there are natural alternatives.  Needless to say, the gummies weren’t entertained anymore than inside of the package.

NOTE: An interesting statement that I found (source is below). “The FDA continues to maintain that artificial dyes are safe, citing numerous studies that found no ill effects. But today the Center for Science in the Public Interest called on the FDA to ban eight of the most common artificial dyes, or at least affix a warning label to products that contain them: 'Warning: The artificial coloring in this food causes hyperactivity and behavioral problems in some children.'  Trader Joe's and Whole Foods claim the products they sell contain no artificial dyes."  Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-4151130-500803.html#ixzz1QagIg6Dp