Jun 5, 2008

Artificial Food Dye

There was a report on the CBS evening news last night about a group called the Center for Science in the Public Interest. They have petitioned the FDA to ban artificial food dyes because of the effects these foods have on children's behavior.

I'm happy to see the issue of artificial food additives being addressed in the media. To me, it seems like common sense to avoid eating foods that have artificial colors and flavors. I am constantly shocked at how apathetic most people are about food dyes. Even if you don't consider the behavioral effects in children, doesn't it seem gross to eat these chemical food dyes and flavorings? Nobody truly knows what they are doing to our bodies, both short term and long term.

What really strikes me as ridiculous is that food manufacturers can and do make foods that do not have artificial food dyes, yet they don't sell those foods in the U.S. They are sold in the United Kingdom, which has banned all artificial food dyes. As reported on the CBS news story, you can buy a strawberry parfait in McDonald's in London that is flavored with real strawberries. But, you can't buy that parfait anywhere in the U.S. The strawberry parfaits sold here are artificially flavored. Yuck. If given the choice, which would you rather eat? Real strawberries which have nutritional value or fake strawberry-flavored chemicals.

We vote with our dollars every day. Start voting for food that is free of artificial dyes.

For the full CBS news story on artificial food dyes, go to CBS news on the web.

See this Parenting Methods blog post for a summary of all articles and blogs in Parenting Methods that relate to children's behavior and diet.