What You Can Do About Food Dyes
Avoid dyes: Look for items that are free from the following dyes. Blue 1, Blue 2, Citrus Red 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6.
Support healthy companies: Stop buying from companies who produce overly bright, fake colored food and drink items. Instead support companies who voluntarily replace synthetic dyes with safer, natural colorings. Visit the food coloring database to see which colors are in the foods you eat.
Purchase USDA Organic food and drinks: The Organic Trade Association points out that organic handlers do not use synthetic dyes in organic food products as regulated by national organic standards under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program.
Color safe at home: When coloring food or drinks or art projects at home, like cake frosting or play dough, be sure to use natural plant based food colorings. Just because you swear off synthetic food coloring and dyes doesn’t mean you have to live in a bland world. Many companies have safe vegetable- and plant-based food dyes that allow you to whip up a vivid batch of cookie frosting or color another treat of your choice. Check out the options below:
- India Tree Vegetable-Based Natural Decorating Colors
- Natural food dye by Chefmaster
- Seelects’ Natural Vegetable & Plant Based Food Colors
- For art projects use homemade tea and plant dye instead of synthetic dye.
+ Center for Science in the Public Interest
+ Food Dyes A Rainbow of Risks – the complete report (pdf)
