Artificial dyes: Another processed food concern

In addition to sugars, cholesterol, trans-fats and other unhealthy ingredients, food coloring might be alarming to consumers, especially when it comes to children’s foods.  Companies that produce items in this market need to render their labels clearly in order to convey the safety of all ingredients.

LA Weekly recently featured a news story on a report published in Clinical Pediatrics. This report, conducted by scientists from Purdue University, asserts that different types of food dyes tend to appear in sugary and high-calorie processed food items, including breakfast cereals, candy and even cheeses. The story notes that the FDA does not require labeling for food coloring.

However, this doesn’t mean that the use of these additives is always apparent. Another article on the same study, this one published in Quartz, expressed confusion that food colorings also appear in white icing and other products that don’t “seem” to be dyed. White icing in particular was noted as containing two different dyes: Yellow 5 and Red 40.

There might not be a requirement to declare this, but companies should realize when the presence of a food dye might not be apparent and take care to emphasize its presence, especially when it comes to candy labels.

When there’s only so much space to go around, and the rate of production means you can’t afford a mistake, you can use high-speed laser printers to create custom printed labels without losing any time. Plus, informing your consumers and making it clear what you’ve done will prepare your business for further scrutiny as it grows and show that you’re willing to go the extra mile to pursue a higher standard.