Synthetic food dyes weren’t on my radar until several years ago, when I researched and reported a story for Parents magazine called The Food Dye Blues. I presented both sides of the issue in the magazine story. But personally, I changed my own shopping habits. Now I look at ingredient lists for synthetic dyes–and try my hardest to avoid them.
Not only are synthetic dyes an unnecessary ingredient, but there’s also evidence that they may have an adverse effect on kids, worsening symptoms like inattention and hyperactivity in some children with ADHD–and even in some kids who don’t have ADHD. It’s a risk I’m not willing to take for a colorful hue. Especially when there are so many alternatives that use natural food colors.
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I reached out to two Real Mom Nutrition readers whose children have sensitivities to food dyes and asked for their favorite naturally-colored versions of typically-dyed food like candy and cake sprinkles. All of these products are either ones they recommended or ones that I like–and they all use natural food colors (from plants) for their hues. It goes without saying, but using natural colors instead of synthetic food dyes doesn’t magically make candy and cupcake sprinkles “healthy”, but these are great options if you’re looking to avoid synthetic dyes!
Naturally Colored Candy
Naturally Colored Cake Decorating
Naturally Colored Baking
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D Johnson says
My granddaughter cannot have red #40 (It makes her nauseous, My niece also couldn’t learn with it). and yellow food dye makes her very hyper. We like Mamba fruit chews which are kind of like Starburst, and Fruit Mentos which are like big Skittles. Both are easy to find in regular stores. We get Mombas at the dollar store, and Mentos at the check out of the grocery store. All my grandkids love them!
Brittany Kleiner says
I’m also researching how to get rid of food dyes in my grocery shopping…. I have a child with PANDAS/PANS.
The Chex cereal we have in our cabinet has Red40 and Blue1 added to it ! Why???? Why??? The cereal itself js Brown!?!? Does it NEED coloring?
Red 40 is known to cause hyperactivity in children . Do we need to keep poisoning ourselves and our kids?
Frustrated Mom
Laurie Kay says
Check the ingredients in Black Forest Gummys. Some of them have artificial dyes. I found out the hard way. Juicy Bears has artificial dyes, the package looks the same as the others, and I served them to my kids and nephew, they have red and blue dye allergies.