In 2017, California began to review the science on food dyes and behavior. The CSPI requested me to send a collection of studies to them, which you can see here.
Today they released their Final Report.
The Report concludes that:
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Consumption of synthetic food dyes can result in hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral problems in some children.
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Children vary in their sensitivity to synthetic food dyes.
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At a minimum, in the short term, the neurobehavioral effects of synthetic food dyes in children should be acknowledged and steps should be taken to reduce exposure to these dyes in children.
California State Senator Wieckowski has introduced a bill to do just that: SB 651, the Reducing Exposure to Synthetic Food Dyes Act, would require a warning label on dyed foods sold in California, similar to the labeling requirements that Europe imposed over a decade ago. The main benefit of such a label is that the companies tend to prefer reformulating their products to eliminate dyes instead of having to apply a label.
This is a big win for all of you who know how damaging food dyes cn be — but it’s not over yet. Now the Bill has to be passed. It needs your support. Please support it yourself, and bring it to the attention of your doctors, other healthcare professionals, educators, and any organizations you are connected to that are interested in health or the welfare of children. Support letters should be submitted at the LETTER PORTAL as soon as possible. The deadline is only a few days away — April 21st!! The Bill itself will be heard in the California Senate Committee on Health on April 28th.
Please don’t think that if you don’t live in California, this doesn’t involve you. It does. First, because many things that begin in California later sweep the entire country. But most important — if a company makes a product that they want to sell in California, and therefore they take out the artificial dyes and use natural dyes, you know that same product — with the natural dyes — will be what they sell all over the country.
One more thing …. don’t worry about whether or not these companies can do it. They’ve already been using natural colorings for the past decade in Europe. They can do it just fine. Why don’t they want to do it here? Simple. Artificial food dyes are cheaper. If we don’t care, why should they? So please help — show California you CARE.
To help you, the CSPI suggests this format which, of course, you can personalize as you wish.
