Is the Problem Bigger than Kelloggs?
The Kelloggs protest has attracted attention to a much needed larger discussion regarding what should and should not be allowed in the food sold within the United States. In addition, it has shed light on the reality that Europe and Canada have much stricter and safer food standards regarding additives, dyes, and preservatives. This protest is being featured in mainstream media and bringing this issue to light in a different way than we have previously seen before.If you are not familiar with the Kelloggs protest I will attempt to give a brief synopsis of what is currently happening.
In 2015 Kelloggs made a public statement where they pledged to remove artificial dyes from their breakfast cereals by 2018 in the United States. Keep in mind many of these products already had modified ingredients lists for other countries that would not allow artificial dyes to be sold. For example, in Canada these artificial dyes and preservatives have been replaced with coloring produced by natural fruit concentrates. Kelloggs cereals in the United States still currently include Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6 and Blue Dye No. 1. This remained largely unnoticed until California recently passed a law called the California School Food Safety Act which bans six potentially harmful dyes in foods served in California public schools. The ban includes all of the dyes in Froot Loops, plus Blue Dye No. 2 and Green Dye No. 3. The bill cites several adverse effects on children from developmental to behavioral. The passing of this law brought these artificial dyes back to the center of the conversation and now there are mass protests and boycotts against Kelloggs. This current event has started a much larger and necessary conversation.
So what does all of this mean and where do we start?
Simply put the largest population segment impacted by exposure to these artificial dyes is children. There are now significant studies that link the exposure of artificial dyes and neurological deficits as well as long term behavioral issues as early as prenatal exposure from the mother. It is important to realize that Kelloggs breakfast cereals are not the only risk of exposure, these dyes are everywhere and show a particularly strong presence in food marketed toward children. Sadly, we continue to see Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder levels rise in the U.S. at rates that correspond to artificial dye usage in children’s snacks. While correlation does not directly mean causation (there are a number of factors) it does significantly point to a contributing factor. There have also been longitudinal studies that have shown statistically significant links between lifelong consumption of artificial dyes and preservatives to increased risk of esophagus , stomach, and colon cancer.
Other parts of the world have already made significant strides toward reducing the exposure to artificial food dyes. For example, in the United Kingdom Fanta orange soda is colored with pumpkin and carrot extracts while the U.S. version uses Red 40 and Yellow 6. McDonald’s strawberry sundaes are colored only with strawberries in Britain, but Red 40 is used in the United States. All this to say, cleaner alternatives already exist. It is a choice to still produce the food in the United States to contain these ingredients instead of replacing them with the cleaner option.
At this time there are a few things individually that you can do to limit exposure to these dyes particularly if you have children. The first starts at home by simply reading your food label and being aware what snacks currently have artificial food dyes in them. While we cannot directly control what companies put into their food or snacks, but we do have the power as the consumer on what you choose to put your money behind. In addition, in almost every state there is currently a petition swirling for signatures to pass a bill that would prohibit artificial food dyes in school food very similar to what was passed in California. Adding your signatures and showing your support could go a long way to impact longer lasting changes to protect all children.
This doesn’t mean there is never a time to eat a cupcake or enjoy something without fear of dyes or preservatives! Like everything else we will continue to talk about there has to be room for joy and for the enjoyment of life. However we can do our part to limit the daily exposures and make lifestyle changes that can have significant returns on our health.
Research Links:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12940-022-00849-9
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/ehp.118-a428
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9573786/
Suggested Swaps:
Earth’s Best Strawberry Fruit Bar
Fritos Original (This shocks me too but original Fritos only contain corn , corn oil, and salt