Ever wonder about the Red no. 40 in those fruit snacks? Or the Blue no. 1 in your mouthwash? These are a few of the 7 certified food colors (“FD&C colors”; FD&C = Food, Drugs & Cosmetics) approved for widespread use in the U.S. 

These dyes, made from carcinogenic ingredients, are added to many processed foods, candies, beverages, over-the-counter medications, and vitamins in the US, especially those intended for children. But since the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) initially approved the food dyes between 1969 and 1987, (when few studies of children were available) clinical trials using synthetic dyes have examined neurobehavioral outcomes in children, and laboratory studies of neurotoxic effects in developing animals have become available. Food dyes have been anecdotally and scientifically shown to negatively affect behavior, especially in children, the effects of which is most profound in children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and other behavioral issues, increasing hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattention. Animal studies indicate effects of exposure to synthetic food dyes on activity, memory and learning, changes in neurotransmitter systems in the brain, and microscopic changes in brain structure. 

Learn more about the harmful effects of artificial dyes and colors in this episode of the Renegade Nutrition podcast, and find out what you can do to keep yourself and your family safe! 

Here is the complete list of artificial dyes approved for use in the US: 

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