Archive for the ‘Food Alerts’ Category

August 12th, 2009

Food Alert: Synthetic Food Coloring

Synthetic coloring isn’t something most of us consider when making food purchases. We may look for sugar, sodium, fat and other nutritional content, but how many of us actually read through the list of ingredients? And if we do, do we even know what we’re reading? So much of what goes into processed foods isn’t even pronounceable. Also, food coloring is often used in meats (farm raised salmon) and fresh fruits (oranges, to correct brown spots), which don’t contain ingredient labels. Synthetic coloring is something we should all be aware of, however, as research has shown it to be harmful to humans in many ways. The concern is great enough that several colorings have already been pulled off the market, and there is pressure to pull more.

What are the dangers of synthetic food coloring?

• ADHD
• Cancer
• Tumors
• Sterility
• Hormone Disruption
• Chromosomal Damage
• Allergic Reactions
• Asthma
• Headaches
• Immune System Suppression

Currently, there are 7 colorings still being used today in the United States, and many more that have been discontinued. Other countries, such as many Asian countries, still allow colorings that have been banned in the U.S., while some of the colorings still used in the U.S. have been banned in European countries. In the U.S., the colorings still in use are:

• Blue No.1
• Blue No. 2
• Green No. 3
• Red No. 40
• Red No. 3
• Yellow No. 5
• Yellow No. 6

Those colorings that have been discontinued are:

• Violet No. 1
• Red No. 2
• Red No. 4
• Red No. 32
• Orange No. 1
• Orange No. 2
• Yellow No. 1
• Yellow No. 2
• Yellow No. 3
• Yellow No. 4

Synthetic food colorings are made from petroleum and coal tar products. They often contain arsenic, lead, and other harmful elements, as well. Products targeted at children are especially likely to contain food coloring. (Think candy and soda.) Even children’s toothpaste and vitamins are full of food coloring! And children are especially vulnerable to such synthetics. Numerous studies have shown that children diagnosed with ADHD have shown vast improvement when all food colorings, Red No. 40 in particular, were removed from their diet.

In my own life, I’ve recently stopped buying certain products because they contain food coloring, and I’m constantly on the look-out for more. (Of course, if I’m hankering for Laffy Taffys or a Coke, I will occassionally indulge. You gotta have some fun in life!) Among those to go:

• Gatorade
• Total Cereal
• Licorice
• non-organic margarine
• non-organic fruit

Next to go: Tillamook Yogurt. Sorry Tillamook! My husband is going to hate me for this, but when you use at least 2 food colorings in one yogurt… You’re getting nixed.

When in doubt, I buy organic products. You can also look for labels that say no artificial colors or preservatives. My next mission—”banning” (meaning I will try to avoid but won’t totally deny) all toxic preservatives!

Posted By: admin |  Filed Under: Food Alerts  |  3 Comments  |  Permalink

July 14th, 2009

Food Alert: Silk Soy Milk

If, like me, you use soy milk in lieu of cow’s milk, you probably purchase, or have purchased, the brand Silk. Silk is the most commonly available soy milk in major supermarkets, especially if you live in a small town. But if you have the option to buy a different brand, now is the time to switch, if you’re still buying Silk. Why? There are several reasons. Take your pick.

1. Silk is owned by the mega corporation Dean Foods. (They also own the organic label Horizon, by the way.) Other commonly known Dean Foods brands include Meadow Gold, Land O Lakes, Mountain High, PET and Mayfield’s in the south, and Garelick Farms in the northeast.

2. If you don’t find mega corporations inherently evil in and of themselves, please know that Silk dropped their organic status on most of their products. I used to buy the original Silk, in the red box, and I don’t know how long I’d been buying it before I noticed the Organic label was switched to Natural. I think I cussed right there in the grocery store. What’s the problem with their Natural soy milk? Products labeled “Natural,” and even products labeled “Made with Organic Ingredients,” do not adhere to the strict standards that organic food is required to. They can still contain pesticides, herbicides, and other nasty things. In the case of Silk, their “natural” soy beans are often processed with hexane, a neurotoxin. Yum, right?

3. If your store does carry the new Silk organic product, in the green carton, you’re probably cheering. But you shouldn’t be. Wanna know where those organic soy beans are now coming from? China. Yep. Silk ended its long relationship with American soy bean growers and started buying soy beans from China because it’s cheaper.

4. If American companies buying foreign imports doesn’t bother you, consider the fact that Chinese “organic” soy beans have failed to meet federal organic standards on several occasions.

If you care about your food, and the workers who produce your food, please consider buying a different brand of soy milk the next time you’re at the store. Organic Valley, for example, is still a small company producing quality products that are safe. They are committed to the organic label, and have a strict non-GMO policy.

For more information visit Organic Consumers.org. and read their article on Silk Soy Milk.

Posted By: Kelly |  Filed Under: Food Alerts  |  4 Comments  |  Permalink