I prefer my food in color "Natural"!

After reading the article "Mother's Against Food Dyes" Thursday evening I have been scouring my cupboards and kitchen reading food labels. I was disgusted at what I found even in my own household. I researched the validity of their concerns regarding the food dyes Yellow #5 and #6 and I think they have good reason to petition Kraft to remove this from their Mac and Cheese. Especially, since the entire purpose of them adding the dye is for the mac and cheese to be an attractive yellow/orange color. I prefer my food in color "Natural". In addition, I hope that Red #40 and many other additives will be removed right along with them.

Although, our U.S. FDA does not find that there is significant proof to the claims of ADHD, allergies, low testosterone, low sperm count in males, and cancerous tumors the U.K. FDA has already removed these additives years ago. If there is not a concern why remove them? Again I ask why we are adding something to our food to make it attractive in color? I even consulted a friend yesterday (Thanks, Beth) who has removed these additives and others from their household years ago. I consider her ahead of the times. She noticed a significant difference in her child and has been an advocate for this process all along. 

I am thankful for Beth, Vani Hari, and Lisa Leake for starting this petition. They have brought national awareness to this topic. I am in hopes that Kraft will change their product line and others will follow their lead. At this time they have nearly 181, 304 signatures for their petition and need 18,696. If you wish to join this petition click here.

If you would like to educate yourself more on this topic you can 'google' Red Dye #40, Yellow #5 & Yellow #6 or Mom's Against Food Dyes. You will find numerous articles regarding this issue and many journal publications regarding the effects and studies completed on food dyes. In addition, I have pasted one of the many articles regarding this topic below and you can click a Wikipedia link here.

Always learning...

~Danyelle



Kraft: Stop Using Dangerous Food Dyes in Our Mac & Cheese

1. 1. 
   2. Petition by
      Vani Hari and Lisa Leake
      Charlotte, NC

Hi there, this is Vani Hari from Food Babe and Lisa Leake from 100 Days of Real Food. We recently discovered that several American products are using harmful additives that are not used – and in some cases banned – in other countries. One of those products is an iconic staple that almost every American, us included, has had at one time or another: Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in the US contains the artificial food dyes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. These unnecessary – yet potentially harmful - dyes are not in Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in other countries, including the UK, because they were removed due to consumer outcry. Kraft reformulated their product for the UK, but not for their fellow American citizens.
It’s time we demand the same here in the US!
Note: Yellow 5 (labeled asTartrazine) is also used in these products in Canada, and we're sure they don't want to have it in their food either!
That's why we are petitioning Kraft to remove all dangerous artificial food dyes
 from their line of macaroni and cheese.
Here are the reasons we are asking Kraft to remove Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 from their Macaroni and Cheese.
Artificial food dyes...
- Are man-made in a lab with chemicals derived from petroleum (a crude oil product, which also happens to be used in gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt, and tar).
- Require a warning label in other countries outside the US.
- Have been banned in countries like Norway and Austria (and are being phased out in the UK).
- Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 are contaminated with known carcinogens (a.k.a. an agent directly involved in causing cancer).
- Cause an increase in hyperactivity in children.
- Have a negative impact on children’s ability to learn.
- Have been linked to long-term health problems such as asthma, skin rashes, and migraines.
- Add absolutely no nutritional value to the foods we are eating and are solely used for aesthetic purposes only.
To prove this last point we personally tested both the US and UK versions of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and found virtually no difference in color or taste (see the video above).
We both grew up eating this product, Lisa used to feed it to her kids, and it’s available at almost every grocery store across the country.
Our kids deserve the same safer version that our friends get overseas!
Kraft Foods is the largest food company headquartered in the United States. If Kraft changes their Macaroni and Cheese, we know this could inspire other food companies across the US to finally eliminate dangerous artificial food dyes once and for all.

Would you like to discuss this topic further? Leave a comment!