Science Friday Are Food Dyes Really Bad For You?
Aug 25, 2025
Asa Bradman, a professor of public health at UC Merced and expert on food dyes, joins to delve into the vibrant world of artificial food colorings. They discuss how these dyes have evolved from natural roots to synthetic forms, with mounting health concerns, especially regarding children's behavior and ADHD. The conversation highlights the controversial cancer implications tied to certain dyes, calls for more research, and evaluates the risks associated with food dyes compared to other environmental factors, urging caution and informed choices.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Petroleum Origins Of Food Dyes
- Artificial food dyes are derived from petroleum and were developed to make foods more enticing and fun.
- They replaced earlier natural dyes and were reviewed and approved for food use after industrial chemistry advanced.
Surprising Early Dye History
- Early food color history included surprising additives like arsenic before synthetic dyes emerged.
- The chemical boom enabled bright petroleum-derived colors that became common in processed foods.
Behavioral Concerns Date Back Decades
- Studies since the 1970s raised concerns linking artificial dyes to behavioral changes in children.
- Improved study quality has strengthened recognition that these concerns have legitimate scientific basis.