Where That Color Comes From

Are warning labels for food dyes coming soon?

- Debby Waldman

THAT ARTIFICIAL FOOD dyes are unhealthy is not news. Some of the most common additives used to give color to everything from M&M's to soup-are known to cause hyperactivity in some children, affecting their ability to learn. But regulatory agencies around the world don't necessarily agree on which food dyes are a problem, or why. That may soon change, thanks in part to increasing consumer pressure. In addition, a comprehensive 2021 peer-reviewed report prepared by the state of California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) concluded that synthetic food dyes "cause or exacerbate neurobehavioral problems in some children" and that the current levels deemed safe for consumption by the federal government are too high.

In response to the report and a subsequent petition signed by children's advocates, consumer advocacy groups, and health and environmental experts, California is now considering requiring warning labels on food products and dietary supplements containing the seven most commonly used synthetic dyes. Among them are Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, which account for more than 90% of food dye certified for use in the United States. Restaurants in California would also have to identify menu items containing the additives.