– Opinion –
Renee Shutters of Jamestown, New York, noticed negative effects on her son's behavior and concentration after he ate M&M's containing artificial food colors (AFCs). Shutters started a petition on Change.org to condemn food manufacturer Mars for using synthetic colors in M&M's. After her story was featured in multiple media outlets, including the Today Show and the New York Times, Mars empathized with her family's story and advocated for removing the colors from M&M's. Ten years later, M&M's in the U.S. still include the common artificial colors Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, and Red No. 40 in their ingredient list.
Shutters isn't the only group fighting for the safety of food colorants. There are many other groups pressuring the FDA to change its food color approval process. Not surprisingly, many countries, such as Norway, Finland, and Switzerland, have completely banned certain AFCs, and the EU warns the public about the potential adverse effects of AFCs on product labels. In the United States, AFCs were approved by the FDA between 1969 and 1987, but after decades of research, the agency has yet to change this law.
The debate surrounding AFC has been going on for years, with studies highlighting its impact on children. Most notably, a 2007 study from the University of Southampton linked AFC to hyperactivity, including inattention, increased activity, and impulsivity. Additionally, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, and Red No. 40 were found to contain benzidine, a synthetic chemical known to increase the risk of cancer. Another study even showed that AFC was associated with DNA damage.
In 2008, the consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the FDA to ban synthetic color additives. CSPI knew this would not happen overnight, so it proposed an interim policy for the FDA to require warning labels on such products. However, the FDA's Food Advisory Committee voted 13 in favor of further research on the issue, 8 against adding a warning label, and 6 against, so no change was made. At the same time, in 2008, the European Union announced plans to add warning labels to all foods that contain artificial color additives. In 2010, a warning label was implemented stating, “May have adverse effects on activity and attention in children.”
Nearly 15 years later, Americans continue to consume over 350 AFC products, all of which are readily available in the country. In contrast, Europeans enjoy the same products with better ingredients. Perhaps to avoid warning label mandates, some companies have actually changed their ingredients in the EU. Food blogger Food Babe compares ingredients used in the US and EU. For example, Mountain Dew in the US gets its bright yellow color from AFC Yellow 5, while in the EU it gets the same color from beta-carotene, a pigment commonly found in carrots. Is this fair?
More recently, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) conducted an evaluation of food dyes in 2021 and found evidence of neurobehavioral problems, which prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to sign a new bill last year aimed at protecting consumers from food additives.
In my opinion, I don't think anyone would support the use of AFCs, except for the food companies themselves. AFCs are cheap, last longer, and give products vibrant colors that more natural ingredients can't. For the creators of Skittles, Doritos, Fruit Loops, Jelly, and many other products, AFCs are a way to make these treats tasty and appealing to kids. But as parents, it's important to look at the data and limit these products for the health and safety of our children. There are plenty of nutritious foods that give kids energy, but some snacks are packed with carcinogens. If the FDA isn't going to do its job to regulate ingredients more strictly, we need to do it for them.
The reality is that the United States lags far behind other countries in food safety. The FDA acknowledges that AFCs may affect some children but says it is still studying them. Two out of three Americans are overweight or obese (69%), compared with only half of their European neighbors. Due to the highly processed diet Americans consume, AFCs may be fueling chronic health problems in the United States. It is important to continue to pressure the FDA to uphold its mission of protecting public health and follow science-based information on ingredients. If you would like to know how you can help change food additive laws, support organizations working on this issue, such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest, send ingredient complaints to the FDA directly, or contact your state complaint coordinator.
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About the author: Gabriella Meringolo is a graduate student at the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. She is currently completing her Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Healthcare Policy and Management with a concentration in Health Services Management. Meringolo works full time as a Senior Project Coordinator for NYU Langone Health as part of the Network Integration department, overseeing quality performance in value-based contracts with Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and private health plans.
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