The Downside of Eating Artificial Food Dyes

• Red 3 was finally banned from food after a more than 30-year delay — The FDA banned Red Dye No. 3 from cosmetics in 1990 due to evidence that it causes cancer in lab animals. Yet for decades, the same chemical remained approved in food and medications.

It wasn’t until January 2025 that the FDA took action to remove it from foods, despite longstanding pressure from consumer advocates. However, the dye is still on store shelves, as food manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove it from food.

• Children are especially exposed — and vulnerable — to these additives — Synthetic food dyes are widespread in mainstream brands: PepsiCo’s Doritos contain Yellow 5, 6 and Red 40. Kraft Heinz uses Yellow 5 and Blue 1 in sweet relish. These dyes are common in everyday family foods and contribute to repeated, high-dose exposure in growing children.

• Experts call for proof of safety — not just lack of proven harm — Mozaffarian, director of the Food Is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, criticized the FDA’s approach. “It shouldn’t be that we’re sure they cause harm before we remove them; it should be we’re sure they’re safe before we put them in food,” he told TIME.⁵

• Public health funding cuts are slowing dye safety research — When Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services, stated he would prioritize chronic disease prevention by improving the food supply, artificial dyes were part of that agenda. Yet, in early 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced dramatic cuts to research.

Twenty-two states sued to block the funding reduction, warning that it would “devastate critical public health research.”

• Red 3’s ban is just the beginning — other dyes are under review — The removal of Red 3 may signal a shift in federal policy. TIME notes that more than a dozen states are already drafting legislation to restrict the use of other synthetic dyes. Meanwhile, public health advocates continue urging the FDA to re-evaluate the safety of all artificial colors based on updated science, not outdated toxicology studies from the 1970s and 1980s.

• Europe has taken stronger action to protect children — CSPI pointed to a stark contrast in how artificial dyes are treated in other countries. In Europe, foods containing certain dyes must carry a warning label stating they may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.

As a result, many major food companies reformulated their products in Europe using natural colorings like paprika and beet juice. In the U.S., however, the same brands continue to use petroleum-based dyes without warning labels.

• Behavioral effects are consistent — CSPI emphasized that multiple clinical trials have confirmed what many parents already suspect: synthetic dyes worsen hyperactivity and reduce impulse control in children. Even children without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are affected.

• Several dyes are still approved despite links to cancer and allergic reactions — According to CSPI, Blue 1 is used in thousands of products and has been linked to neuron toxicity and rare allergic reactions. Blue 2 showed some evidence of brain cancer in male rats, and Green 3 was associated with bladder and testes tumors in a 1981 study — but all three are still permitted by the FDA despite these concerns.

• Contamination with known carcinogens raises serious red flags — Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, two of the most commonly used dyes, may contain trace amounts of cancer-causing chemicals. These contaminants — or the chemicals your body converts them into — are not routinely disclosed on food labels, leaving parents unaware of the added risk.

• Hypersensitivity and allergic reactions are well documented but downplayed — Yellow 5 is known to cause hypersensitivity in some people, especially those sensitive to aspirin, and is linked to behavioral issues in children. Yellow 6 can trigger severe allergic reactions and was shown in industry studies to cause adrenal and kidney tumors in animals — yet it remains legal without warning labels.

• Children with existing behavioral conditions are especially vulnerable — OEHHA’s findings showed that children who already struggle with attention, hyperactivity, or impulse control are at even greater risk when exposed to artificial dyes. Even relatively small amounts of dye — within limits still legally allowed by the FDA — were found to trigger negative behavioral responses.

• The effects are more than just short-term hyperactivity — While hyperactivity is the most well-known symptom associated with dye exposure, the report detailed a broader pattern of disruption. Children exposed to dyes showed problems with working memory and impulse control. These are core functions necessary for academic success and emotional resilience. The OEHHA concluded that food dye exposure impacts neurobehavior in children.

• Parents have no way to track how much dye their children consume — The lack of mandatory labeling of the quantity of dye in foods is another concern. Ingredients like Red 40 or Yellow 5 may be listed, but no amounts are disclosed — leaving parents with no reliable way to measure their child’s exposure. This lack of transparency makes it nearly impossible to stay under FDA-recommended daily limits, even if parents are actively trying to do so.

• The research revealed widespread behavioral and biological effects — The review found that artificial dyes are associated with multiple adverse outcomes, such as allergic reactions, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems and significant behavioral disruptions in children both with and without behavioral disorders. These dyes were also linked to cancer-causing, DNA-damaging and cell-damaging effects.

• Some dyes disrupt neurotransmitter function — The review noted that Red 3 interferes with neurodevelopment and contributes to cognitive and learning problems.

• Synthetic dyes often contain or are contaminated by heavy metals — Studies cited in the review noted that many synthetic dyes include trace amounts of mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead. Risks from these heavy metals are amplified in children due to their smaller body size and ongoing neurological development.

• Even medications and vitamins contain unsafe dye levels — It’s not only junk food that’s the culprit. Over-the-counter children’s medications and vitamins often contain synthetic dyes in concentrations that exceed FDA safety thresholds. In some cases, cough syrups delivered nearly triple the Acceptable Daily Intake for Red 40 per serving.

1. Read every ingredient list, even on “healthy” packaged foods — You’d be shocked how often food dyes show up in yogurts, sports drinks and flavored waters.

They’re not just in candy and soda. If you see names like Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1 or FD&C followed by a color and number, put it back. If you’re shopping for your kids, know that many children’s snacks are loaded with these additives, even the ones marketed as “natural.” This first step is awareness — every label counts.

2. Switch to dye-free alternatives and whole foods — There are dye-free versions of nearly every product — sometimes it’s just a matter of choosing a store brand or organic label. I recommend choosing foods with recognizable, whole ingredients.

Fruits, vegetables and unprocessed meats don’t need added colors to look appetizing. For color in homemade treats, use turmeric, beet juice, spirulina or paprika. These are natural sources of pigment that won’t harm your health.

3. Make food swaps a family game, not a punishment — If you’re a parent or caregiver, getting children off dyed foods might sound challenging — but you don’t have to go cold turkey. Start with a fun challenge: “Let’s find the best tasting snack without any weird colors.”

Make it a weekly mission. The more involved your children are in spotting the ingredients and making swaps, the more likely they are to stick with it. The goal is to create curiosity and ownership — not resistance. Let them be detectives, not victims.