NEW YORK POST – A new study published in the journal Nature Communications has revealed that a common red dye in food can increase the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases, which affect some three million Americans, according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
The additive, denoted as Red 40 or Allura red on ingredients label, is the most prevalent dye used in many popular snacks and drinks, including Skittles, Doritos and Pepsi, as well as some cosmetics.
“What we have found is striking and alarming, as this common synthetic food dye is a possible dietary trigger for IBDs,” said McMaster University researcher Waliul Khan, the study’s senior author, in a statement. “This research is a significant advance in alerting the public on the potential harms of food dyes that we consume daily” …
“These findings have important implications in the prevention and management of gut inflammation,” said Khan.
“The literature suggests that the consumption of Allura Red also affects certain allergies, immune disorders and behavioral problems in children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),” he added.
The Food and Drug Administration has a set limit on the amount of food coloring that can be used in food and cosmetics, while the recommended daily intake is no more than 3.2 milligrams per pound of a person’s body weight.
A 2014 study in the journal Clinical Pediatrics found that just one serving of Kool-Aid’s Burst Cherry drink contains more than 50 mg of various dyes. READ MORE.
