Red, yellow, blue…all the primary colors are beautiful to look at…but not in our foods. You may be surprised to discover the following synthetic dyes in your foods:

–Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layers Honey Butter Biscuits & Betty Crocker Supermoist Carrot Cake contain Red 40
–Edy’s Take the Cake Ice Cream & Sara Lee Signature Colletions Andes Chocolate Mint Cream Pie contain Red 3
–Vlasic Kosher Dill Spears & Yoplait Key Lime Yogurts contain Yellow 5

The use of synthetic dyes and food colorings has drastically increased over the last 5 years. The safety of these dyes used in food is not exactly known, leaving it up to the consumer to make an educated decision.

Synthetic dyes can cause allergic reactions, possibly worsening behavior of ADHD symptoms, and may even possibly cause tumors or mutations in animals, as evidenced in clinical research trials.

The bottom line: Try to avoid synthetic dyes in your food selections as often as possible. Try to switch to safe, natural colorings such as paprika, beet or blueberry juice concentrate and beta-carotene.

Source: Nutrition Action Newsletter September 2010