Red 40
Flavors + Colors
Potentially Harmful
Details
Definition
Red 40 (Allura Red) is a dark red synthetic dye made from petroleum and used in cereal, candies, drinks and condiments. It is one of the most used and most controversial artificial colorings.
AKAs
Red #40,RED NO. 40,Red 40 Lake,allura red
Health Impact
Some people, especially children, may be sensitive to food dyes, and have experienced allergic reactions when consuming them. Artificial food dyes have also been linked to increased behavioral problems in children, especially those with ADHD, because they may cause chemical changes in the brain, inflammation, and depletion of minerals that are important to growth and development.
Sources
Potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children: a review of the human and animal evidence
https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-022-00849-9Artificial Food Colors and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Symptoms: Conclusions to Dye for
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3441937/Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risk
https://cspinet.org/sites/default/files/attachment/food-dyes-rainbow-of-risks.pdfMechanisms of behavioral, atopic, and other reactions to artificial food colors in children
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23590704/Color Additives Questions and Answers for Consumers
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/color-additives-questions-and-answers-consumersArtificial colorings (synthetic food dyes)
https://www.cspinet.org/article/artificial-colorings-synthetic-food-dyesReading ingredients made easy. For quicker, healthier decisions.
Start Scanning (it's free)
