Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health Red Flags in Your Food: The Truth About Artificial Dyes - AI Podcast
May 7, 2025
Many processed foods in the U.S. are loaded with harmful artificial dyes like Red 40 and Red 3, raising alarming health concerns. These additives not only threaten safety but are linked to behavioral issues in children, such as hyperactivity. While Europe mandates warning labels and embraces natural alternatives, the U.S. lacks similar regulations. Advocates emphasize the need for families to read labels carefully and shift to whole foods to avoid these hidden dangers. Practical tips for dye-free living are also shared, empowering listeners to take control of their diets.
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Widespread Use of Harmful Dyes
- Over 36,000 U.S. processed foods contain the dye Red 40, and about 8,000 include Red 3, a carcinogen recognized for decades.
- FDA only recently banned Red 3 in foods in 2025, giving companies until 2027 to remove it.
Dyes and Children's Behavioral Issues
- Synthetic dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 increase hyperactivity and attention difficulties in children.
- Effects worsen for children with ADHD, according to California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
Dyes Serve Marketing, Not Health
- Synthetic food dyes are used mainly to make processed foods visually appealing and increase sales.
- They carry hidden public health costs despite no nutritional benefit.