We are now consuming food dyes as never before. The statistics are not surprising when you consider all your food products from breakfast to ice creams are using more and more food colours. While naturals food dyes are available like Annatto, manufacturers choose synthetic food colourings which are quite dangerous for children.
Food
dyes like Blue 1 and 2, Citrus Red 2, Green 3, Red 3 and 40, Yellow 5 and 6
contains compounds like benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl, that research has linked
with cancer.
There are other problems
associated with synthetic food colouring in children like allergies,
hyperactivity, learning impairment, irritability and aggressiveness. According
to a report by US-based Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks,
artificial food colouring likely are carcinogenic, cause hypersensitivity
reactions and behavioural problems, or are inadequately tested.
Further researches have
found that children who consumed conventional synthetic dyes displayed
hyperactive behaviour within an hour of consumption. (These children had not
been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.)
“We see reactions in
sensitive individuals that include core ADHD symptoms, like difficulty sitting
in a chair and interrupting conversations,” says David Schab, M.D., M.P.H.,
assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University. Even so,
says Schab, this isn’t the most significant issue to get rid of synthetic food
dyes. “Foods with dyes are often riddled with other nutritional problems, like
excess calories and fat,” says Schab, who points out that childhood obesity is
a far greater public health concern.
A survey was done in North
Kerala by the Food Safety Department, which revealed that the use of synthetic
colours in sugar-based confections is posing a severe health risk in children.
Out of 14 samples collected by the authorities, 97 per cent contained permitted
colours while three per cent contained a combination of permitted and
non-permitted colours.
Furthermore, the analysis
shows that 82 per cent of the samples exceeded the prescribed limit of 100 ppm
(parts per million) for permitted colours.
Studies on animals have
revealed that Brilliant blue can cause renal failure, asthma or liver damage
while Tartrazine is responsible for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,
and sunset yellow causes adrenal tumour and hypersensitivity.
According to Chief
Nutritionist Priya Bharma from Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, “Artificial
colouring helps to make food more captivating but at the cost of health,
causing everything from hyperactivity and allergic reactions to cancer.
Artificial colours are high in calories and less in nutrients and are mostly
found in processed junk foods. For example, a royal blue dye found in candy,
ice cream, cereal and snacks. Focus on eating whole and unprocessed food like
dairy products, unflavored nuts, unpolished cereals, fruits and vegetables
etc.”