Health experts have warned that ingesting foods with green food dyes in large quantities can have effects on physical health - particularly in children.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, some studies have linked artificial food dyes to hyperactivity in kids, including ADHD.
However, other behavioural changes like irritability and depression have also been noted in those who consume food colouring regularly - in sweets and drinks.
An Australian study found 75% of parents noticed an improvement in behaviour and attention once the dyes were eliminated, the Clinic reported.
Hives and asthma are also two side effects that some people can develop after eating foods that have been dyed.
Most severely, studies show tumour growth in very few people - associated with three of the primary food dyes containing benzene, a known cancer-causing substance.
Although it is not necessary to avoid food colouring altogether, minimising food dyes in your kids’ diets.
And if there is a cancer risk in your family, registered dietitian, Julia Zumpano, says; “I would encourage you to be even more vigilant in avoiding artificial dyes.
Some of the worst food dyes are:
- Green 3, otherwise known as “fast green” is prohibited in the EU and some other countries. It reportedly caused significant increases in bladder tumours in male rats. It’s commonly found in beverages, sweets, ice cream, and cosmetics
- Blue 2 aka Indigotine is derived from coal tar, and is a common food colouring that is also used to colour the denim in blue jeans
- Red 3 aka Erythrosine is another coal tar that is also fluorone-based. In 1983, it was considered for banning in the United States due to possible links to thyroid cancer
- Red 40 aka Allura Red is sometimes considered a ‘safe replacement’ for Red 3. However it often contains aluminium and other metals - some studies indicate that this colouring is carcinogenic, and also link it to general organ toxicity
- Yellow 5 is a dye-based in both coal tar and crude oil runoff containing benzene, a known carcinogenic.
