15 Products Made With Natural Food Colors

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.

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

1 YumEarth Organic Lollipops

2 TruSweets Candy Canes

3 Black Forest Gummy Bears

4 Trader Joe’s Gourmet Jelly Beans

5 UnReal Candies

 Naturally Colored Cake Decorating

6 Color Kitchen Food Coloring

7 McCormick Color Nature Food Coloring

8 Geeky Hostess Christmas Tree Sprinkles

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