Dive Brief:
- This week, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) sent a letter to the FDA and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition asking that warning labels be placed on foods containing Red 40, Yellow 5, or other synthetic food dyes.
- The CSPI submitted more than 2,000 complaints from parents who believe their children were adversely impacted by the dyes.
- The FDA requires warnings on unpasteurized juices and foods with aspartame, the CSPI said, which believes labeling is also needed in the "context of food dyes."
Dive Insight:
The CSPI suggests that a warning label would make the connections clear to consumers. The suggested label would read: "Warning: This food contains synthetic food colorings that may impair the behavior of some children."
It has also pointed out that major food manufacturers have already developed versions of the dyes without artificial colors to sell in Europe, where they are required to label the potential adverse effects of artificial dyes.
The organization released a report in January that targeted the FDA for permitting the use of artificial food dyes, citing research.
Companies, including General Milles, Kellogg, and Kraft, have eliminated artificial colors from some of their products. Announcments like these are commonplace as consumers call for products devoid of artificial ingredients.