More and more companies are turning from artificial to natural coloring. Good News?
An article from Berkeley Wellness noted an increase in the both the number of food manufacturers and packaged foods that now use natural vs. artificial coloring, including beetroot powder, paprika, and annatto, for example, instead of Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. For years, the European Union has required warning labels on foods containing any artificial colors and pressure on American food manufacturers is pushing them in the same direction.
However, there is evidence that coloring of both sorts can cause harm. Artificial coloring has been implicated in causing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and several natural colorants have shown severe allergic reactions or may be classified as carcinogenic at some levels of ingestion.
The article nicely summarizes the real issue at hand:
"For the vast majority of people, food colors—whether natural or artificial—do not pose a health risk in the amounts typically consumed. The main problem is that foods containing them tend to be heavily processed, high in fat, sugar, and sodium, and not very nutritious.
Don’t assume that replacing artificial colors with natural ones makes the food a healthy choice either—candy is still candy. If you eat mostly whole foods (like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) and limit processed foods (especially crazy colorful ones), you’ll consume few color additives anyway."
Wise words.
For the complete article: click here
However, there is evidence that coloring of both sorts can cause harm. Artificial coloring has been implicated in causing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and several natural colorants have shown severe allergic reactions or may be classified as carcinogenic at some levels of ingestion.
The article nicely summarizes the real issue at hand:
"For the vast majority of people, food colors—whether natural or artificial—do not pose a health risk in the amounts typically consumed. The main problem is that foods containing them tend to be heavily processed, high in fat, sugar, and sodium, and not very nutritious.
Don’t assume that replacing artificial colors with natural ones makes the food a healthy choice either—candy is still candy. If you eat mostly whole foods (like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) and limit processed foods (especially crazy colorful ones), you’ll consume few color additives anyway."
Wise words.
For the complete article: click here
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