Dangerous Dyes Hidden in Your Food

Continued from page 2

7. Chocolate syrup may contain dye, just to make sure the chocolate looks rich enough.

8. Gelatin is practically just a vehicle to serve up synthetic dyes and sugar.

9. Many oranges from the tree are colored with Red 2, to give them a beautiful deep orange color.

10. Products with lemon flavor are often dyed yellow, since lemons by nature produce a very pale juice—the outside skin is yellow but not the juice. Nevertheless, we like our lemon-flavored products to look deep yellow!

But dyes are all around us. Check the list of ingredients on these types of categories—you’ll often find synthetic food dyes.

· Over-the-counter and prescription medicines (antihistamines, antacids, topical products)

· Sunscreen, aloe vera gel, and self-tanning products

· Mouthwash

· Toothpaste

· Body care products, from soap to gels to lotions to shampoos

· Cosmetics

· Pet foods

What can you do? Read the ingredients carefully. Today, many products also offer detailed information online. Do not assume that just because your product is not bright neon pink that it does not contain synthetic dyes!