Synthetic food dyes are still widely used in the U.S. food supply — especially in sweet, brightly packaged products aimed at kids.
A new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics analyzed more than 39,000 packaged foods and drinks from the top 25 U.S. food manufacturers. Researchers found that 19% of products contained synthetic dyes, with Red 40 appearing most often.
“Although certain food categories may contain more products with synthetic dyes, it is also important to consider what foods consumers are buying,” said lead author Elizabeth Dunford, PhD, “as even food categories with smaller proportions of synthetic dyes may be purchased and consumed in significant amounts and thus contribute more to overall dietary intake of dyes.”
Synthetic dyes were most commonly found in sports drinks, beverage concentrates and candy. However, the largest share of purchased dyed products came from carbonated beverages. These foods also packed more sugar: on average, products with synthetic dyes had 33.3g of sugar per 100g, compared to 13.8g in dye-free items.
“Products containing synthetic dyes also had a much higher average total sugar content compared to products without synthetic dyes,” Dunford noted, “suggesting that companies are using synthetic food dyes to market sweet foods and beverages.”
The analysis found that 28% of foods in the top five kid-targeted categories — including cereals, baked goods, ready meals and sugary drinks — contained synthetic dyes, compared to 11% in all other food categories.
“There are a number of policy options to limit dye exposure, including bans and warning labels,” said co-author Thomas Galligan, PhD, of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “Companies can also voluntarily reduce the use of synthetic dyes in their products.”
The study was funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The findings come as federal officials call for stronger oversight. Earlier this year, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged food manufacturers to eliminate synthetic dyes, pointing to mounting concerns about potential behavioral effects in children. His department is exploring new FDA guidance or regulatory actions to address the issue.