In recent years studies have shown a possible risk to children. Researchers believe they can cause hyperactivity, ADHD and other behavioral problems in some kids.
Most artificial food dyes are made from petroleum oil and coal tar. In the United States the FDA has approved several dyes including Yellow-5, Blue-1 and Red-40, but over in Europe things are much different.
Many American food companies are forced to make two different versions of their products due to the strict rules European countries like England have on artificial food dyes.
Take for example Kraft's macaroni and cheese. The American version gets it's cheddar-like organish glow from artificial dyes Yellow-5 and Yellow-6. The European version however, is colored through paprika extra and beta-carotene (the organic compound that makes pumpkins and carrots orange.)
"It's really unfair that the American children are being affected by these dyes here, but not overseas and not in other countries," food blogger and FoodBabe.com founder Vani Hari says.
Outraged by the idea of not having natural versions of food in American, Hari and another food blogger decided to speak out. They created a petition with close to 300,000 signatures that ask Kraft foods to make their American version of macaroni and cheese as wholesome as the version found overseas. "It's not like we're asking Kraft to reinvent the wheel and come up with a new product and test market. It's already done," Hari says.
Several European countries decided to crack down on the use of artificial dyes after research showed they might be harmful to children. In a study titled, Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks, test animals developed tumors, cancers, changes in behavior and signs of hyperactivity. It lead researchers to believe that in children certain dyes could be responsible for allergic reactions, birth defects, hyperactivity, and behavior problems like ADHD.
WKOW 27 News was able to track down the Kraft macaroni and cheese UK version called "Cheesey Pasta." It's made the same way as the American version using a little bit of butter, milk and some water. We decided to make them both and put them side by side and see if people could tell the difference.
They found arguably the biggest fan of macaroni and cheese. 6-year-old Ava Docherty of Waunakee says she eats it as often as she can."Three times a week or something," Docherty says. Both Ava and her mother Angie agreed to do a blind taste test for us. After sampling each one,
Both were amazed at how similar they looked and tasted. Both were hard-pressed to pick out which one they liked best. In the end they both decided the UK version looked and tasted better. "If this is definitely the better choice with less additives and dyes, there wouldn't be a reason why you wouldn't," Angie Docherty says. Knowing what she knows now, mom says she'll be on the lookout for artificial dyes in her family's food.
But Docherty isn't the only mom focused on what she feeds her kids. With a growing trend of more mindful mothers, scientific researchers have been working on alternatives to artificial dyes. One of them is Dr. Irwin Goldman, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Horticulture Department. He has spent the past 20 years studying dye-producing vegetables like beets. The juice from beets is used in many food products like snack foods, ice cream, and yogurt.
"You chop up the vegetable. Think about a blender where you add water to it. That liquid will become the source of your colorant," Goldman says. Other researchers have found viable dyes in potatoes, carrots, cranberries, and radishes.
"I think we eat food with our eyes. I really do and I think beauty and attractiveness is a huge part of the whole social part of eating," Goldman explains.
Despite all this research, Goldman says there's a limit to what these vegetable dyes can do. "They can't be used in something that would be heat processed because the colors will often break down with heat, whereas the synthetic dye will often be more stable," Goldman says.
It's likely natural dyes will never be able to fully replace their artificial counterparts, they're more expensive and have severe limitations, but Hari and her food-blogging counterpart hope that with more people becoming aware of them and supporting them, businesses will pave the way for innovation.
"When you look at the amount of artificial dyes being put into our food supply versus way back when, these are serious issues that we need to address," Hari says.
Kraft foods does offer a few product choices that don't contain artificial food dyes. They include:
KRAFT Mac & Cheese White Cheddar
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Organic White Cheddar
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Organic Cheddar
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Alfredo
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Deluxe Original Cheddar
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Deluxe Four Cheese
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Deluxe Sharp Cheddar
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Homestyle Creamy Parmesan Alfredo
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Homestyle Sharp Cheddar and Bacon
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Homestyle Classic Cheddar
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Homestyle Hearty Four Cheese
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Homestyle Bowl Southwest Tortilla
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Homestyle Bowl Creamy Broccoli with White Cheddar
KRAFT Mac & Cheese Cup Alfredo
Company representatives from Kraft Food said they use Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 in their original Kraft Macaroni and Cheese because it has been tested frequently and is approved by the FDA.
They also mentioned that scientific consensus on safety is very important when it comes to the ingredients they use. Studies they are familiar with show that artificial dyes are safe to consume. However, they understand that some consumers are looking for a product that does not contain artificial dyes. That is why they provide the 14 products listed above and will continue to develop new items that are food dye free.
At this time however, company representatives tell us that they plan to keep the original macaroni and cheese recipe the same, because they feel several consumers enjoy the taste and color of the original recipe.
*Anyone who would like to learn more about artificial food dyes should check out these websites for more information:
Kraft Foods Response to Petition:
FDA Website- Artificial Food Dyes:
Web-MD Article on Artificial Food Dyes:
Center for Science in the Public Interest- Artificial Food Dyes
Dr. Irwin Goldman's Research into Beets as a Natural Dye:
UW-Madison Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics Program:
Source: WKOW.com
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