Synthetic dyes are linked to cancer in animals and behavior problems in children
Image Credit: György Barna/iStock/Getty Images The U. S. Food and Drug Administration regulates food additives. It has approved nine synthetic dyes for use in food under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said in an interview with CBS News that the dyes add nothing to the nutritive value of food and may not be safe. They are linked to cancer in animals and behavior problems in children, which is a serious concern as the dyes are widely used in foods such as cereals and candies that are marketed to children.
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Background
Food manufacturers use synthetic dyes mainly for marketing reasons.
Image Credit: BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images Food manufacturers use synthetic dyes mainly for marketing reasons. The dyes protect against color loss, even out natural variations in food color and make “fun foods” colorful and more visually appealing. Food dyes also help products match our expectations – for instance, manufacturers dye strawberry ice cream pink and mint ice cream green.
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Sometimes you will see the word "lake" used with dyes on food or drug labels. Dyes are liquid colorants soluble in water, ethanol or propylene glycol. Lakes are dry, non-soluble dyes used to coat products such as candies or pills.
Blue No. 2
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christingasner/iStock/Getty Images
FD&C Blue No. 2 is also called indigo blue or indigotine. It is a synthetic version of indigo, a dye naturally produced from plants. Indigotine, on the other hand, is a petroleum product, with the chemical formula C16H10N2O2. It is used in baked goods, cereals, ice cream, snacks, candies and cherries.
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Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity in children.
Image Credit: Darrin Klimek/Digital Vision/Getty Images In September 2007, a study reported by D. McCann and colleagues in the journal “The Lancet” linked artificial colorings, including Blue No. 2, to hyperactivity. Nearly 300 children in the study were given a beverage with artificial colors and a preservative. Drinking the beverage resulted in increased hyperactivity in the children, which the researchers attributed to the artificial coloring or the preservative or both. As a result, one candy company, Nestlé-Rowntree, stopped selling one of its candies with a blue shell until it replaced the artificial color with a new blue color made from spirulina, a blue-green algae.
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Cancer
Blue No. 2 had statistically significant increases in brain cancers and other abnormal cell development.
Image Credit: Sebastian Duda/iStock/Getty Images In a group of studies reviewed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Blue No. 2 did not affect reproduction or cause birth defects in rabbits or rats. However, male rats in one group that received a high dosage of Blue No. 2 had statistically significant increases in brain cancers and other abnormal cell development. No human studies have been reported, and experts disagree about the safety of Blue No. 2, according to the CSPI. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that FD&C blue no. 2 is safe for use in food and supplements, according to the Code of Federal Regulations. The CSPI asserts that Blue No. 2 is not safe for human consumption. Since it adds nothing to the nutritive value of food and evidence for its safety is questionable, CSPI recommends it not be used in foods.
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references & resources
CBS News: Food Dyes Linked to Allergies, ADHD and Cancer: Group Calls on US to Outlaw Their Use; David Freeman
The Lancet; Food Additives and Hyperactive Behavior in 3-Year-Old and 8/9-Year-Old Children in the Community; D. McCann et al.
Scientific American; Where Does Blue Food Dye Come From?; Brendan Borrell
Center For Science In The Public Interest; Food Dyes -- A Rainbow of Risks; S. Kobylewski, M. F. Jacobson
USHHS Food and Drug Administration; What is the difference between the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act , FDA regulations, and FDA guidance?
Food and Drug Administration; Code of Federal Regulations
Food and Chemical Toxicology; Evaluation of the Potential...; J.F. Borzelleca et al.
Food and Chemical Toxicology; Multigeneration Study of FD & C Blue...; J.F. Borzelleca
Food and Chemical Toxicology; Chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity...; J. F. Borzelleca
references & resources
CBS News: Food Dyes Linked to Allergies, ADHD and Cancer: Group Calls on US to Outlaw Their Use; David Freeman
The Lancet; Food Additives and Hyperactive Behavior in 3-Year-Old and 8/9-Year-Old Children in the Community; D. McCann et al.
Scientific American; Where Does Blue Food Dye Come From?; Brendan Borrell
Center For Science In The Public Interest; Food Dyes -- A Rainbow of Risks; S. Kobylewski, M. F. Jacobson
USHHS Food and Drug Administration; What is the difference between the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act , FDA regulations, and FDA guidance?
Food and Drug Administration; Code of Federal Regulations
Food and Chemical Toxicology; Evaluation of the Potential...; J.F. Borzelleca et al.
Food and Chemical Toxicology; Multigeneration Study of FD & C Blue...; J.F. Borzelleca
Food and Chemical Toxicology; Chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity...; J. F. Borzelleca
Synthetic dyes are linked to cancer in animals and behavior problems in children
Image Credit: György Barna/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: György Barna/iStock/Getty Images
Food manufacturers use synthetic dyes mainly for marketing reasons.
Image Credit: BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: christingasner/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: christingasner/iStock/Getty Images
Hyperactivity in children.
Image Credit: Darrin Klimek/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Image Credit: Darrin Klimek/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Blue No. 2 had statistically significant increases in brain cancers and other abnormal cell development.
Image Credit: Sebastian Duda/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: Sebastian Duda/iStock/Getty Images
CBS News: Food Dyes Linked to Allergies, ADHD and Cancer: Group Calls on US to Outlaw Their Use; David Freeman
The Lancet; Food Additives and Hyperactive Behavior in 3-Year-Old and 8/9-Year-Old Children in the Community; D. McCann et al.
Scientific American; Where Does Blue Food Dye Come From?; Brendan Borrell
Center For Science In The Public Interest; Food Dyes -- A Rainbow of Risks; S. Kobylewski, M. F. Jacobson
USHHS Food and Drug Administration; What is the difference between the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act , FDA regulations, and FDA guidance?
Food and Drug Administration; Code of Federal Regulations
Food and Chemical Toxicology; Evaluation of the Potential...; J.F. Borzelleca et al.
Food and Chemical Toxicology; Multigeneration Study of FD & C Blue...; J.F. Borzelleca
Food and Chemical Toxicology; Chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity...; J. F. Borzelleca
