| Alternatives |
| Thursday, 07 October 2010 16:37 | |||
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October 8, 2010—Near the end of a column about “organic alternatives” written by Dr. Mehmet Oz, which appeared in a recent issue of TIME, there are several bulleted ‘shortcuts’ listed that concern “getting the best of organic without the cost.”
The first bullet listed is “Avoid synthetic colorants.” Synthetic, or petroleum-based food and beverage dyes have been part of the food system in the U.S. for decades, and even though some of these dyes have been pulled or modified in recent years, many remain. Some groups, like The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) say that synthetic food dyes pose a number of risks to the American public, and they have repeatedly called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban three of the most commonly used of these dyes: Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. An earlier CSPI report said that these dyes contain known carcinogens and contaminants that unnecessarily increase various health risks. A few years ago, a research study conducted in the United Kingdom suggested a link between hyperactivity in some children and certain food colorings. As a result of this research, laws were passed and two months ago in the European Union, food containing the offending dyes were forced to carry warning labels indicating their possible adverse effects. Since the warning label law went into effect, companies doing business in both the U.S. and Europe who had been using synthetic dyes in the manufacture of their products began substituting natural alternatives to the synthetics — in products sold in the EU only. But in the U.S., it is still business as usual. Recently, a new CSPI report indicated that synthetics do nothing to improve the nutritional quality or safety of foods, and could trigger not only behavioral and allergy problems in children but, possibly, cancer. The report urged the FDA to take steps to ban synthetic dyes, which would “force industry to color foods with real food ingredients, not toxic petrochemicals." In response, an FDA spokesperson said that the agency appreciated receiving the report and would review it, adding that “we take our commitment to protecting children seriously.” According to this most recent report, tests done on lab animals found contaminants that raised health concerns about several of the nine dyes currently approved for market. The approved dyes are Blue 1 & 2, Citrus Red 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3 & 40 and Yellow 5 & 6. “Every year”, the report said, “about 15 million pounds of these dyes wind up in our food, with much of it ending up in things like candy, fruit drinks and cereals.” If a politically and psychologically savvy person who considers him or herself to be objective were to take stock of what’s happening in the issue of synthetics versus natural food and beverage dyes, they would agree that one thing is historically clear: nothing will happen on this side of the pond until (and unless) the American consumer gets behind the possibility of change and begins making demands. Until that day comes, companies manufacturing the majority of products sold in the United States will continue to use synthetics, because the federal government has previously ruled them to be safe. And you can’t blame them. If you care to comment please do so. All sides need to be heard.
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