What colours do you put into your shopping cart? Are they “real” colours?
In the kitchen and on plate, everything looks better in bright technicolour. I’m thinking field greens, delicious tomatoes, yellow peppers, blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe and so on. I am not referring to neon colour “food products” and beverages (blue power drinks?!?) Don’t you wonder if all of that artificially coloured (and then probably flavoured) food is ok for you and your families to be eating?
For decades, there have been studies about food dyes and their link to cancers, allergies, and behavioral issues in children, not to mention their affect on our world just in production alone. The results are astounding, and regardless of the ability for companies (big business and politics) to claim that they are safe, are you willing to take a chemical chance on your body and on your kids’ bodies?
If there are proven studies about the dangers of food dyes, why is the FDA and other food safety agencies allowing the use of them? This colours me RED with anger and it hopefully colours you varying shades of outrage as well! In the EU and UK, the big companies have already started phasing dyes and other toxics out of their products because their population has demanded it. Please! Let’s do the same here. Yes, it’s a long road, but your own small effort along with everyone else’s will in fact restore us to a calming, natural color.
Remember, we might expect to find toxic stuff in junk food (candy, cakes, cocktails), but it’s important that you read up on your yogurt, cheeses, vitamins, and even crackers…be your own best advocate and read the label every time. You will surprise yourself by making super smart decisions!
These are the food “colorings” that I deem acceptable for my family:
Beet and carrot juice
Annatto (plant-derived)
Turmeric (actually good for you – an antioxidant)
These are the absolute “not in my shopping cart” ingredients:
Anything with a dreaded numbered colour i.e. Red 40
Any “lakes” in an ingredient name
Tartrazine (even in conventional mac and cheese!)
Sneaky ingredient names – stuff I cannot pronounce and/or understand
Although I encourage you to be colourful, don’t paint your plate by number, use your own palette! And don’t wait for the media and the government to announce that food dyes are toxic. You know they are, so start by protecting yourself and your family, and it’ll mean the world to all of us.
About The Author:
Lisa Borden, owner of Borden Communications, takes a unique approach to holistically marketing eco-intelligent living and working. Some of her favourite titles (from a long list) include: Catalyst for Change, Enthusiastic Philanthropist, Inspiration Agent, Strategist + Catalyst, Mother of 3 and Wannabe Organic Farmer.
