Artificial food dyes, particularly Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40, are used widely in processed foods, candies, snacks, and beverages to enhance visual appeal. However, there are several reasons why these dyes have already been banned or heavily restricted in other countries and why they should be banned in the U.S. as well.
Potential Carcinogens: Animal studies link these dyes to tumor formation, raising concerns about long-term cancer risks in humans.
Behavioral Issues: Studies show these dyes increase hyperactivity and ADHD symptoms in children.
Safer Alternatives: Natural colorings (e.g., beet juice, turmeric) are safer and widely available.
Lack of Consumer Awareness: U.S. consumers are largely unaware of the risks due to insufficient labeling, while other countries have stricter regulations.
Banning these dyes would protect public health, especially children, and safer alternatives are readily available.
all the additives that Europe bans in food should be BANNED in this country and GMO’s too. The friggin FDA is so entrenched in the PHARMA they won’t do anything to stop it.
I wholeheartedly agree that artificial dyes like Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40 are a major concern. It’s alarming to see these chemicals so widely used in our food while other countries have already banned or heavily restricted them due to potential health risks. It feels like a double standard when these countries then produce medications or treatments that we end up relying on, while we are still consuming harmful additives. It’s time the U.S. takes a stronger stance on banning these dyes and prioritizing the health of its people.
I couldn’t agree more! Working in healthcare, I have seen the impacts of poor nutrition. There is such a large quantity of highly processed and refined food and an insane amount of additives, especially food dyes. We’re feeding our children a dye….I’ve never heard of any natural food being dyed. Food dyes need to be banned. There is no nutritional benefit and research does show that these dyes, especially red 40 are linked to numerous diseases and have major harmful affects on our children and on our health.
Yes! It is mine and my Hubby’s mission as well! We only eat whole fresh organic foods and make everything we eat from scratch!! All these chemical cocktail poisons MUST be removed. The Pharma machine is profiting off us being addicted to this poison which in turn makes us seek help from them. Then they poison us all with their chemical cocktails they call medicine and food that 90% of us are alladdicted too or brainwashed into thinking it will cure us! Also get off the low fat diets! Learn about healthy fats and keto, even read the GAPs diet book! It’s extreme but start healing yourselves and your families! Join your local Weston A Price foundation and eat grassfed beef and organic pasture raised eggs and chicken!!
Less Federal laws, more State authority:
Let States decide what dyes they want to allow. Companies wont want to explain why there are different recipes; they’ll want their product to be able to cross State lines to sell. This lets States with activists do the research, set standards, then other States will match them, like building and safety standards.
I agree that artificial food dyes like Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40 should be banned in the U.S. due to their potential health risks and the availability of safer alternatives. Research supports these concerns, as studies have shown these dyes can have adverse health effects, particularly in children.
1. Potential Carcinogens: There is evidence linking these dyes to tumor development in animal studies. For example, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) found that Yellow 6 and Red 40 contain contaminants like benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl, both of which are known carcinogens in high doses. While more research is needed to confirm similar effects in humans, the potential risk warrants precautionary action.
2. Behavioral Issues in Children: Multiple studies, including a meta-analysis published in The Lancet, have shown that artificial food dyes can exacerbate hyperactivity and ADHD symptoms in children. The European Union requires products containing these dyes to have warning labels stating that they “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” This policy reflects a growing body of research showing that even low levels of these additives can negatively impact children’s behavior.
3. Safer Alternatives Exist: Many companies have already switched to natural colorants in markets where artificial dyes are banned or restricted. Natural alternatives like beet juice, turmeric, and paprika extracts provide the same visual appeal without the associated health risks. For example, Kraft removed Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 from its popular mac & cheese products in Europe but continues to use them in the U.S., highlighting an inconsistency in safety standards between countries.
4. Regulatory Gaps and Consumer Awareness: The U.S. lags behind other countries in regulating these dyes. For example, the UK and several other European nations have banned or required warning labels on products containing these artificial colorants. In contrast, U.S. consumers often aren’t made aware of the risks due to insufficient labeling requirements. This disparity raises questions about why American consumers aren’t given the same level of protection.
Banning these dyes in the U.S. would be a step toward protecting public health, especially for children, who are more vulnerable to the adverse effects. The availability of safer natural alternatives makes it an easy and practical change for manufacturers, ensuring that visual appeal doesn’t come at the cost of consumer safety.
I agree! But don’t stop at just those dyes. Remove all artificial ingredients from the food. Including cancer causing pesticides. There are natural additives that can be added to foods. There are also natural ways to medigate pests that are natural. There is no need for synthetic and harmful additives that destroys the health of ourselves and our children.
I’d be in favor of voting wholesale in favor of existing EU food regulations.
There might be some quirky things to omit (that I’m not aware of regarding import/export restrictions that aren’t relevant and similar things like that) but overall it’s much faster.
I agree, but I think we should take it a step further and ban all artificial ingredients, everything should be organically grown with no pesticides. All food in the grocery store should be natural, not made in a chemical lab with addictive and harmful ingredients. Get rid of all synthetics.
We do need to watch out for our small businesses in this transition. Large companies likely already have a version of their product for over seas sale. While i would like to believe small companies are more likely to use whole foods, i would like us to provide them support during the transition that would be unnecessary for larger companies.
As a mom of a child with sever food allergies, I appreciate this submission and support it 100%.
As an American that is concerned about the state of health and our food quality, these are the most crucial points I want to convey that I feel must be revisited and remedied:
High quality food: without chemicals, pesticides, harmful dyes, additives and preservatives that is also affordable. Fruit and vegetables that have their original nutrients in tact. I will not buy another tasteless tomato from the grocery store. Grains free from all chemicals that resemble those that are organic or sold in the EU. I am okay paying a little more for something with all above criteria, but that is less expensive than organic.
Revise the national school lunch program OR, come up with a competitor that will greatly improve the foods that children can buy at school. Currently, in the NSLP, a slushy counts as a fruit. YES. Make it make sense. End the cronyism between government schools and providers and the federal government. Make School Lunch Healthy Again.
Create and promote honest guidance for families, children and doctors on real nutrition and vitamins and supplements.
Support functional and integrative medical providers in all parts of the U.S. not just larger cities.Promote getting to the root cause of our health issues instead of prescribing drugs.
If we as families and parents have better choices that do not increase our current (inflated) grocery bills by 18% or more, we can greatly improve the health of our next generation.