“Foods and beverages containing synthetic dyes are widely prevalent in the U.S. food supply, particularly in sweet foods and beverages, which are commonly marketed to children,” said a study published Tuesday in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
According to the study, synthetic dyes were present in 19% of products tested. Authors of the research explained that their objective was to examine the use of synthetic dyes in U.S. foods and beverages sold by the top 25 manufacturers in the nation during 2020 to examine differences in the sugar, sodium, and saturated fat in products with and without synthetic dyes. Overall, the products represented $46 billion in consumer purchases.
In the top five categories marketed to children, researchers found that 28% had synthetic dyes, compared to 11% in the other categories. Products with synthetic dyes also had sugar levels 141% higher compared to products without them, but lower levels of sodium and saturated fat.
Some products had as many as seven synthetic dyes and 19% contained one or more of the dyes. Red No. 40 was the most common, found in 14% of products. That is one of six dyes that the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. plans to eliminate from the U.S. Food supply by the end of next year.
Red Dye No. 40 is made from petroleum, per the Cleveland Clinic. Some studies have shown a link between the dye and hyperactivity, though the clinic said more research into the link is needed. Another dye, Red Dye No. 3, has been linked with cancer, Audacy reported.
“For too long, some food producers have been feeding Americans petroleum-based chemicals without their knowledge or consent,” said Kennedy of food dyes this year. “These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children’s health and development.”
Already, some companies have moved to remove dyes from their foods amid pressure from the HHS. Just this month, Audacy reported that Kraft-Heinz announced it would remove all dyes from its products.