Effects of Artificial Food Coloring, Research Paper Example

Many foods on the market contain artificial dyes to add or enhance the color of the foods. In fact, there are thousands of foods artificially colored such as candy, cereals, beverages, vitamins, and many other products. This is particularly true of many products that are marketed to catch the attention of children. Even some fruit is dipped in artificial food coloring to give a more enhanced look to the color of the fruit (Portera, 2010). This may or may not be something that most people know about; however, the main concern is whether or not artificial food coloring poses a health risk to the public.

Uses of Artificial Food Coloring

Food manufactures use artificial food coloring as additives to enhance the look of certain foods or to correct unattractive natural colors, according to the International Associate of Color Manufacturers. Natural color in foods is often lost when the food is stored. There are several types of food coloring that is used in multiple foods; however, the most common are Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. The latter three accounts for 90 percent of artificial dyes added to foods (Portera, 2010).

Research Results of Food Coloring Toxicity

According to a report conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, nine artificial dyes, including the popular four mentioned above, likely have carcinogenic risks associated with them and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States approves all these. Following is a summary of some of the study results (Kobylewski & Jacobson, 2010).

• Blue 1: Studies showed that food coloring had some toxicity in rat and mouse studies. This study included findings that it also caused kidney tumors and possible nerve cell damage in mice. It is not suspected of being cancer-causing, but it is suspect for causing hypersensitivity reactions.
• Red 40: This is the most used. It is suspected of accelerating immune system tumors in mice. It is also suspected of causing allergic reactions in some people and triggering hyperactivity in children.
• Yellow 5: Research shows that this artificial color may contain “several cancer-causing chemicals”. In addition, it sometimes causes hyperactivity and behavioral problems in people, especially in children.
• Yellow 6: This dye was shown to have caused adrenal tumors in lab animals and may be contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals. It too, may be the cause of allergic reactions.

Effects of the Use of Food Coloring in Foods

As mentioned above, artificial dyes in foods may be the culprit of health issues associated with ingesting it in foods. These food colorings are routinely added to foods during processing and have been shown to cause or exacerbate hyperactivity in children. Erickson, Falkenberg, and Metz (2014) reported that consumption of artificial food dyes is an environmental risk that may be linked to attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Animal lab testing showed that behavioral changes in rats is indicative of what could occur in human populations. In addition, the study findings indicated an association between the environment, behavioral development, adulthood, and aging associated with ingesting artificial food coloring (Erickson, Falkenberg, & Metz, 2014).

Another study reported on by Stevens (2013) highlighted the possible affects of artificial food coloring on children, as related to behavioral and other reactions. The study references the nine artificial food colors currently approved in the U.S., including the popular four mentioned above, and mentions that behavioral toxicity in children is a known effect of ingesting artificial food coloring.

References

Erickson, Z. T., Falkenberg, E. A., & Metz, G. A. (2014, June 1). Lifespan Psychomotor Behaviour Profiles of. PLoS ONE, 9(6), 1-7.

Kobylewski, S., & Jacobson, M. E. (2010). Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks. Washington, DC: Center for Science in the Public Interest. Retrieved from http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/food-dyes-rainbow-of-risks.pdf

Portera, C. (2010, October). Diet and nutrition: The Artificial Food Dye Blues. Environmental Health Perspective, 118(10), A428.

Stevens, L. J. (2013, May). Mechanisms of behavioral, atopic, and other reactions to artificial food colors in children. Nutrition Reviews, 71(5), 268-81.