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FDA to review warnings for artificial food colorings
by Cooshalle Wilson - March 31, 2011 - comments
Irrespective of what the FDA decides, the food industry has once again become conscious of the food it is selling, especially to kids.
In an unforeseen reversal of stance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked a panel of experts to review evidence linking food color to behavioral problems.
The FDA has always maintained that there is no proven link between artificial food colorings and health problems in children.
A potential danger?
In its report on the subject, FDA scientists concluded that food colors were generally safe for normal children, but those diagnosed with behavioral issues could have their condition, "exacerbated by exposure to a number of substances in food, including, but not limited to, synthetic color additives."
Therefore, for the FDA to now publicly reconsider its stand on the subject, and reassess whether popular foods, such as Cheetos, Froot Loops, Pop-Tarts and Hostess Twinkies, should carry warnings, has many consumer advocacy groups celebrating.
A Rainbow of Risks
The most jubilant is perhaps the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which has since 2008 repeatedly urged the FDA to ban artificial food dyes.
CSPI executive director, Michael F. Jacobson said, “The purpose of these chemicals is often to mask the absence of real food, to increase the appeal of a low-nutrition product to children, or both. The continued use of these unnecessary artificial dyes is the secret shame of the food industry and the regulators who watch over it.”
In its latest petition, the CSPI has asked the FDA to ban Yellow 5 and other food dyes, or at least post mandatory warning label on foods containing them.
Many believe it is the June 2010 report of CSPI, titled Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks, that has in fact triggered this federal rethink.
According to the report, most widely used dyes, such as Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 are contaminated with known carcinogens.
The report pointed out that Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 also have a long history of causing allergic reactions in some people.
To ban or not
For its part, the government has cracked down on artificial food dyes. For example, it banned Orange No. 1 in 1950 and Red No. 2 in 1976, after they were proved toxic. But, the FDA is officially not ready to ban all artificial dyes and colors just yet.
However, irrespective of what the FDA decides, the food industry has once again become conscious of the food it is selling, especially to kids.
Certain companies, like Kraft Foods Inc., have already started expanding their product portfolio to include more and more products that are less artificial in color, taste and content.