A review of the ingredients in 39,000+ packaged foods and drinks sold in the U.S. reveals many contain synthetic dyes, especially products marketed to kids.
Nearly 20% of packaged foods and drinks sold in the U.S. contain synthetic dyes, according to a new study.
And foods marketed to kids are more likely to have them, researchers say.
They reviewed ingredient data from more than 39,000 packaged foods and beverages sold by the top U.S. food manufacturers in 2020.
Overall, synthetic dyes were found in 1 in 5 products, most commonly in sport drinks, beverage concentrates, and candy. And the most common dye was Red 40, according to the results.
Looking at the top five food categories marketed to children, researchers found 28% contained synthetic dyes, including candy, sugar-sweetened beverages, ready-made meals, breakfast cereals and baked goods.
Lead Investigator, Elizabeth Dunford, PhD says, “Products containing synthetic dyes also had a much higher average total sugar content compared to products without synthetic dyes, suggesting that companies are using synthetic food dyes to market sweet foods and beverages.”
The authors say bans and warning labels are two policy options for lowering exposure but companies can also voluntarily reduce their use of synthetic dyes.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to phase out synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply. And Kraft Heinz recently said it will be removing artificial dyes from its products by the end of 2027.
Source: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Author Affiliations: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of New South Wales, Center for Science in the Public Interest
Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Leave a Reply