Melanie Laugier, a Staten Island mother, was taken aback when she discovered that Red No. 40, a synthetic dye, was an ingredient in the strawberry-flavored PediaSure shakes she regularly provided her son. Laugier relied on these shakes as a nutritional supplement for times when her son was sick or lacked appetite. The revelation of this dye in a trusted product underscores a growing concern among parents about artificial ingredients in children's foods.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a ban on Red No. 40 due to potential health concerns. This ban aims to eliminate the dye from food products by 2027 and from ingested drugs by 2028. While the announcement has been met with approval, many parents express frustration over the prolonged timeline for implementation. They remain hopeful, however, that the ban will eventually lead to safer food options for their children.
“I used it for years as a supplement if he was sick or didn’t have an appetite,” – Melanie Laugier
“I’m upset — and very surprised — that this was on the list.” – Melanie Laugier
Parents like Lesanna Beharry have taken matters into their own hands by using tools like the Yuka app to scan product barcodes and verify ingredients while shopping. Beharry finds Yuka particularly useful in avoiding items containing artificial colors and high fructose corn syrup.
“I’m frustrated that it’s going to take that long, but I’m also hopeful,” – Lesanna Beharry
“At least this is now an important topic of conversation and people are becoming more aware of how many artificial ingredients are in the foods we’re giving our kids.” – Lesanna Beharry
Chyna Haywood, another concerned parent, avoids products with artificial colors, opting instead for fresh produce and organic brands. She finds it unsurprising that artificial colors are prevalent in processed foods, including premade fruit cups.
“I’m not surprised that there’s red dye in those premade fruit cups,” – Chyna Haywood
“I don’t like buying fruit in a cup and I don’t even like buying those pouches that you can’t see through. I want to see the food I’m feeding my daughter.” – Chyna Haywood
For Shany Qiu, the presence of artificial colors in cereals like Froot Loops is concerning enough to prompt her to switch to alternatives such as Cheerios or Kix for her daughters. Despite her children's love for Froot Loops, Qiu prioritizes their health over their preferences.
The apprehension surrounding artificial colors stems largely from concerns about their impact on children's health, particularly regarding hyperactivity and behavioral issues. While the impending ban on Red No. 40 is seen as progress, many parents believe further steps are necessary to ensure food safety comprehensively.
Abbott Nutrition, the manufacturer of PediaSure, has responded to these concerns by committing to remove artificial coloring from its products by 2024. This move is expected to alleviate some parental worries over product safety before the FDA's ban takes full effect.
“When my kids see a plate full of cupcakes with colored icing at a birthday party, they already know what to do,” – Lesanna Beharry
“If they forget, I reiterate it and say ‘Hey, let’s maybe take the frosting off,’” – Lesanna Beharry
“When I told Brayden our colorfully colored Valentine’s cupcakes will be on hold until the dyes are reformulated, he was definitely disappointed,” – Melanie Laugier
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