Food Dye Is Used
In Many Would Be
Healthy Snacks
Food dye, or additives, come in two forms- synthetic(man-made) or natural food additives. Food additives are generally used to help stimulate the eyes. Manufacturers use it continuously in their lines of considered "healthy snacks" to aid in the visual appeal of a product, whether this is to brighten colors, make a product look "fresher", or to completely change the "image" of a product (think green ketchup) for a sales and marketing technique. Eating is an experience that encompasses many of the five major senses. If a food does not look appealing, people do not want to eat it, no matter how good it smells. Synthetic food additives now can be found in a wide variety of food products. A walk up and down almost every aisle in a grocery store can attest to that. From the produce department (where tomatoes are painted red), to the meats (where red is added to make meat look "fresher"), to dairy ( so butter and cheese can look "brighter") to all the snacks, cereals, cookies and candies. Much time, money and advertising dollars are spent marketing these products, especially to children. The most popular colors used are red, blue, green and yellow. Each of these primary colors are used to give a bright and visually appealing look to "capture the attention" of the consumer by stimulating your sense of sight, smell and taste. Color Heightens AwarenessAdding color to foods gives people an impression as to the overall quality of that food. By simply looking at a food and judging it on its color alone people will tend to think that the food that has the brightest and most vibrant color is the one that is the most ripe and tasty.Natural Food DyesBecause of the medical community's findings and constant public pressure, many manufacturers are starting to use natural food dyes in their production lines. Current options available are:- Caramel coloring made from caramelized sugar
- Annatto is a red-orange dye grown from seed
- Chlorophyll- a green dye from plant pigments
- Cochineal- a red carmine from an insect
- Beetroot, Turmeric, Saffron, Paprika & Elderberry Juice- All taken from the plant or spice and used natural for color.
- Titanium Dioxide- compound which yields the color white
- Silver, Gold or Aluminum- each of these are used as themself.
Other natural options are currently in the testing and research phase, some very close to being allowed use in our current food industry. Link Between Hyper-Activity and Food AdditivesMuch time and debate, from research labs down to the "family kitchen" is being used to try and verify if there is a link between the hyper-activity and learning disabilities of children and the over-use of food dyes in our food products. Until final results are available, many parents feel it is "safer" to restrict their children's consumption of synthetic food dyes.
Return to "Dye Free Candy and Snacks" from "Food Dye".
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*Disclaimer*
This site is not intended to replace the advice and supervision of your professional medical treatment plan. Although all of the information is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge, we still recommend you carefully check all food labels before consuming any food product. We can not assume any legal responsibility for any illness obtained while following the advice contained on this site.
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