Artificial Flavorings and Colorings

If you look at the labels of processed foods you will notice that many of them contain "artificial colorings &/or flavorings". Seven artificial dyes were initially approved for use under the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. They are used to mask natural variations in color in some products in order to offset color loss due to light, air, extremes of temperature, moisture, and storage condition; mask natural variations in color; enhance naturally occurring colors, provide identity to foods; or for decorative or artistic purposes such as cake icing. Artificial colors have been linked to allergic reactions, asthma, skin rashes, hyperactivity, headaches and fatigue. These artificial colors are chemical compounds made mainly from coal-tar derivatives (yuck)! The following dyes are seen as the greatest offenders: Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Orange B, Red 40 and Red 3. Dr. Benjamin Feingold of Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Francisco has done extensive research on the effect of artificial colors on health, especially on children. He found that artificial food dyes also cause behavioral disorders and learning disabilities.

Artificial flavors are also linked to numerous sensitivities and are cheaply produced chemical mixtures that mimic a natural flavor. Usually these chemical mixtures are made up of many different volatile chemicals. A typical artificial strawberry flavor, for example, is comprised of 50 different chemicals! It is generally regarded that natural flavoring is a healthier option but that is not always so as natural and artificial flavors may contain the same chemicals. For example, the chemical amyl acetate is the dominate chemical in banana flavoring. When it is distilled from bananas using a solvent it is considered a natural flavor, however when it is produced by mixing amyl alcohol with vinegar and uses sulfuric acid as a catalyst, it is considered an artificial flavor. Another example would be almond flavor. When this flavor (chemically it is benzaldehyde) is derived from peach or apricot pits, it contains a substance known as hydrogen cyanide, a deadly poison. When benzaldehyde is derived by mixing oil of clove with amyl acetate it does not contain the poison but is still considered an artificial flavoring. So in this instance it is probably wise to stick with the artificial flavor!

Both artificial flavors and colors have been linked to ADD & ADHD so it is important for parents to look out for these ingredients on food labels and avoid them as much as possible. In fact, beginning on January 1, 2010, the European Union will require all food with dyes to contain a warning linking dyes to hyperactivity. The Center for Science in the Public Interest is lobbying the FDA to ban these substances. You can read more about their work here.

Next blog... a discussion about caffeine.