Valley residents react as FDA moves to phase out artificial food dyes
THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Check the nutrition label! Your favorite foods likely contain artificial food dyes, which are set to be phased out by the end of next year.
The Food and Drug Administration moved Tuesday to phase out artificial, petroleum-based food dyes, like Red 40, Yellow 6, and Blue 5.
These colorings are frequently added to snacks, drinks, and more.
According to Environmental Working Group, or EWG, sodas are the most common way artificial dyes are consumed. More than 36,000 foods sold in the United States contain Red 40, which is the most used dye in foods.
Testing in animals have shown a possible link between these artificial colorings and increased risk of cancer and tumors.
It was a mixed bag from valley shoppers when asked about their thoughts on the change. Some shoppers, like Palm Desert resident Richard Avila, wasn't aware of the artificial dyes in his foods, though he doesn't think the change will do much.
"It hasn't hurt me yet, you know, and I'm 65 years old and I'm doing fine. I think, you know, I still like them," Avila says.
Others, like Gavin Arrona, from Joshua Tree, admits that when he chooses his munchies, his eye isn't on the ingredients list. "I'm not really looking at it like, this is this is bad for me. I see it, I'm like, that's yellow, that's lime. I like that flavor. I'm not thinking about what it's going to do to me in ten years," Arrona says.
As for alternatives, Arrona says, "But if they came out with, like, just plain ones, without color, yeah, I wouldn't have a problem with that."
I showed other shoppers, like Margaret Wallace of Palm Desert, different products that include artificial dyes like red 40 and yellow 5. Wallace was shocked when I revealed one of her favorite snacks was made using the dye.
"I’m going to give you something you might not expect," I told Wallace.
"Don't tell me."
Revealing a jar of Mt. Olive Kosher Dill pickles, I started, "This jar of pickles—"
"It’s not just pickles, it’s my favorite pickle," Wallace interrupted. "Yellow 5. My God. I had no idea. Uh oh, that's going to change what I buy."
The FDA's decision phases out the dyes by 2026, though last year, California moved to remove them in public schools by 2027. The latest federal move pushes up the public school deadline in the state, but in the meantime, some shoppers say parents should pay special attention to the food they buy for their kids.
"I think parents in particular need to pay attention. My age, I don't know if it's it's going to affect me as much, but I'm still gonna be careful what I buy for my family," says Wallace, now in search of a new brand of pickles to enjoy.
