by Elizabeth Magee, LRD
Will I eat a Dorito that doesn’t look like a Dorito I’ve known my whole life?
YES. Probably just as fast as I eat them now. I’m just not thinking it’s going to alter the taste; hopefully I’m right about that.
Dyes that have been banned in other countries will be making their way out of our products soon; some companies have already started removing them. Mosty due to concerns over behavior issues in kids, cancer in lab rats, and allergic reactions. These dyes are petroleum-derived chemicals, which don’t sound like something super safe, or even appetizing.
In my opinion, it’s something we shouldn’t be consuming. They are there for our eyes over our tastebuds. There are no health benefits coming from these dyes and we can use natural sources to make things pretty – it may not look the same, but I think the health benefits will completely outweigh that.
How to avoid food dyes in your home:
- Read labels: look at ingredients – Yellow No. 5 or Red No. 40, etc are things you may want to start avoiding.
- Focus on whole foods: nothing new here! That is what we should eat most of the time!! Fruits, veggies, lean fresh proteins, whole grains; go for less processed foods overall. Fewer ingredients may just equal more nutritious.
- Add more organicay. It be more expensive, but watch for sales. Certified organic foods cannot use artificial colors. You can also look for labeling that says “No artificial colors.”
- Find brands/items that are using natural alternatives – from beet juice to turmeric – these can make foods more colorful and fun.
- Try a different grocery store – you may find new products that are avoiding artificial dyes.
- Download an app: Yuka scans foods (and some other products) and gives you a rating on the health impact this will have. Fooducate is another app that will flag dyes and other ingredients you may want to avoid.
The most common things these dyes are found in are candy, (sugary) cereals, what feels like all the processed yet delish snacks, and drinks. So, again, not the foods we should be incorporating to be our healthiest selves. They are “sometimes” foods that a lot of us enjoy eating more than sometimes.
Elizabeth Magee is a licensed registered dietitian. Her posts appear monthly on OYT.
Other popular posts from Elizabeth: