So use plastic-free toys. All red artificial food colouring dyes seem to be problematic. Red 40 is banned in Japan but legal in the UK, US & EU, but outside the US is labelled with a child hyperactivity warning.
Red 40. Red 40, also known as Allura Red, is one of the most commonly used flavoring agents in the United States. However, red 40 is banned in the United Kingdom and Switzerland due to health concerns.
In Australia and New Zealand, this artificial red colour is not permitted to be added to confectionery. However, it is permitted in countries where the samples were manufactured (China, India, USA, and Thailand).
Another name for Red #40 dye is Allura Red AC and it is a member of the group of coloring called “azo” dyes.
Currently, the U.S. doesn't ban any artificial food dyes. But some countries say there's enough evidence to justify banning them. Registered dietitian Julia Zumpano, RD, LD, highlights the possible risks associated with red dye 40 foods and how to minimize them.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration certifies that red dye 40 is safe to consume, and they've included it on a list of nine food coloring agents that can be used in food without causing health problems. Other ingredients on this list are common additives you might find in candy, cereal, pastries, ice cream, and yogurt.
Soft drinks – Sprite, Coke, Diet Coke, Mountain Dew; no red or purple dyes. Gatorade – No red or purple dyes. Any clear drinks – water, lemonade, etc.
FD&C YELLOW 5 (E102) – Tartrazine: This chemical colourant is approved for use in foods in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
For example, Red Dye 40 can be added to ketchup, yogurt, dips, and other foods to give them a more vibrant color. It can also be mixed with other dyes to get a certain color. The ingredients and additives, including Red Dye 40, are usually listed on the packages of the foods and other products that you buy.
Skittles, Pop-Tarts, Gatorade and those yummy Little Debbie's products are banned in the European Union because contain dyes like yellow 5, yellow 6 and red 40. The EU banned these artificial colors after their scientific research indicated they could be harmful to health, especially to young children.
How does red dye 40 affect behavior? Research shows that red dye 40 has been linked to increased ADHD symptoms in certain children. The increased symptoms include hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Red dye #40 has been most commonly associated with aggressive and impulsive behavior in children. Tantrums, hitting, kicking and swearing are common reactions in children sensitive to this dye.
Several countries including China, Brazil, Canada, India and EU member states have banned the chemical due to research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which links potassium bromate to carcinogenic effects in animals.
#6: Pop-Tarts
These toaster pastries contain Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40, three food dyes that have been banned completely in Austria and Norway. Elsewhere in the European Union, foods containing these additives are banned in food meant for infants.
Red Dye #40: The additive that gives a Flamin' Hot Cheeto its artificial red color.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2 1) is used as a white pigment for food colouring and is permitted in Australia and New Zealand for use in a wide range of foods at levels consistent with Good Manufacturing Practice. Its long use as a food additive has not given rise to reports of adverse effects.
In addition, some degradation products of aromatic dyes and amines may be carcinogenic (93). Blue No. 1 consumption has not been found to cause tumors in rats. However, it has been found to inhibit nerve cell development in vitro, and its use has been related to skin irritations and bronchial constriction.
Red no. 40 consists of a chemical compound called Allura red AC. This is a naphthalene sulfonic acid. Allura red AC typically comes in the form of a dark red powder or small granules.
Eventually, the company relented and reintroduced the red candies, this time dyed with Red No. 40, except in Europe, where this dye is not allowed. There the candies are dyed with carmine, extracted from the crushed bodies of female cochineal bugs that live on prickly pear cacti.
M&M's are colored with Red 40, an artificial food dye approved by the Federal Drug Administration.
Nabisco's seasonal Winter Oreos, which have a red filling, have 31 mg of Red 40 per serving.
The studies that were reviewed in this article show that diet, especially consumption of artificial food coloring, produces statistically significant increases in ADHD symptoms in children.
Some food dyes, particularly Red #40 and Yellow #5, can disrupt normal nervous system function, which may increase symptoms of anxiety after eating them.
Since Red 40 is synthetic, it can be made to have virtually no taste and produced in quantities and consistencies that are favorable for large batches of uniform products. Red 40 became a prominent food dye in the mid-1970s after the FDA banned Amaranth dye, also known as Red No.