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PORTSIDE CULTURE
10 EVERYDAY FOODS YOU’D NEVER GUESS CONTAIN SYNTHETIC DYES
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Stacey Leasca
May 12, 2025
Food & Wine
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_ You may think you know which foods contain artificial color, but
many dyes could be lurking in foods you'd never expect. _
There’s a good chance your favorite snack’s electric green glow
might not come from nature., Food & Wine/Getty images
* Synthetic food dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 are found in nearly
24,000 U.S. food products, including unexpected items like yogurt,
pickles, and oatmeal.
* These dyes, often used to enhance appearance, are petroleum-based
and may pose health concerns like hyperactivity, allergic reactions,
and gut issues.
* Experts and health officials are urging greater transparency and
regulation, with growing momentum to phase out synthetic dyes and help
consumers make more informed food choices.
The human eye is a miraculous thing, especially when it helps us
choose the foods we eat. As one 2016 study in the journal Brain and
Cognition
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trichromatic color vision — which gives us the ability to see the
whole rainbow of colors — may have developed in primates as "an
adaptation that facilitated the selection of more energy-rich (and
likely red) fruits from amongst the dark green forest canopy."
Humans have always loved bright, colorful foods, as they signal that
they could be the food we need to survive. However, this lifestyle of
"eating with our eyes" could finally be catching up to us, as the need
for identifying a crispy red apple among the branches of a leafy green
tree has been replaced by the choice of vibrant pink yogurts,
impossibly yellow mustards, and candy that's bluer than the sky,
thanks to artificial food dyes. And while you may think you know which
foods contain artificial color, these dyes could be lurking in foods
you'd never expect.
"According to NIQ data, Red Dye 40 is by far the most common food
additive, found in nearly 24,000 food and beverage items in the U.S.,"
Sherry Frey, the vice president of Total Wellness at NielsenIQ
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noted that categories where synthetic dyes are most prevalent include
candy, gum, mints, snacks, desserts, baking supplies, and beverages.
However, consumers might be surprised to learn that these additives
are also found in items that seem otherwise 'healthy' or simple."
Here's what you need to know about dyes and some surprising foods you
can find them in.
_What are petroleum-based food dyes and why is everyone talking about
them? _
Artificial food dyes are synthetic chemicals added to food to enhance
or stabilize color. "Most artificially colored foods are colored with
synthetic petroleum-based chemicals — called dyes — that do not
occur in nature," according to the Center for Science in the Public
Interest
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In late April, Robert Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS), announced his department's plans to
phase out petroleum-based artificial colors
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the nation's food supply, including Red 40, Blue 1 and 2, Yellow 5 and
6, and Green 3. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the Biden
administration had already banned Red 3
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January, but RFK Jr. noted they would like to move the timeline of
that ban up.) RFK Jr. didn't go into specifics on how this will
happen; however, it's a move that is receiving plenty of praise.
Are Natural Food Dyes Better? Experts Weigh In on the Pros and Cons
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"While the FDA considers approved dyes safe within regulated limits,
emerging evidence continues to raise questions about hyperactivity in
children
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allergic reactions, and long-term exposure risks," Jonathan Poyourow
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professor at Johnson & Wales, who also specializes in nutrition,
shared. You don’t need to panic over every processed bite, but
awareness is key.
"This moment offers both a challenge and an opportunity," Ashley
Cornell, the director of regulatory affairs and Policy at Canadian
Health Food Association [[link removed]], added. "We have a chance
to reexamine what we prioritize in our food, and to push for greater
clarity, safety, and simplicity. The good news is that change is
already happening. Bright, beautiful food can still delight the senses
without compromising your well-being. When we know better, we can
choose better."
HOW CONCERNED SHOULD YOU REALLY BE ABOUT FOOD DYES?
"You should definitely proceed with caution," Lindsay Malone
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instructor at Case Western Reserve University, shared, also citing
studies that link food dyes to hyperactivity. "Food dyes are commonly
in ultra-processed foods, which come with their own negative health
baggage, including blood sugar instability, changes in the gut
microbiome, and crowding out other healthy foods."
However, Malone added, "My gut feeling is that dyes probably aren’t
the only problem here. Most people can limit their dye exposure by
eating more whole, minimally processed foods at the grocery store.
This Food Safety Bill Would Require Food Companies to Fess Up About
Food Additives
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"Think of these as single-ingredient foods or foods with very few
ingredients. When you do eat processed food, choose the most simply
prepared and avoid the dyes when you can."
Still, nutritionist Seyma Turan
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“Consistent exposure — especially through ultra-processed foods
— can increase cumulative health stress, particularly for those with
gut issues, sensitivities, or autoimmune conditions.”
HERE'S HOW TO SPOT DYES ON FOOD LABELS
It’s not always easy to decipher what exactly is in our food. But if
you're in the U.S., look for names like Red 40, Yellow 5, or Blue 1 on
ingredient lists. Terms like “artificial color” or “color
added” can also indicate synthetic dyes. Additionally, there are
apps like Yuka and the Environmental Working Group's Food Scores
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lists.
Want to avoid these dyes? You may already be aware of the common
culprits, but here are 10 products containing food dyes that might
surprise you.
PICKLES
That vibrant green hue on bread and butter pickles is often thanks to
Yellow 5. "A natural cucumber's color can fade during processing and
storage," Cornell said. "To compensate, synthetic color is commonly
added to intensify the green hue of shelf-stable pickles. This gives
the illusion of freshness, even after long periods in brine or on
store shelves."
FRUIT-ON-THE-BOTTOM YOGURT
You may think you're getting a fruity punch by picking up
fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt, but be warned that those berry tones can
come from Red 40 or Yellow 6 to make strawberry, peach, or cherry
colors pop. "One that surprises many people is 'healthy-looking”
items like plant-based yogurts or fruit juices — some still use
colorants to appear fresher or more vibrant," Turan explained.
WASABI-FLAVORED PEAS
The Environmental Working Group
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another popular snack that may have added colors: Wasabi peas. The
group explained that they "get their green from artificial dye. It’s
likely not from Green 3, which isn’t widely used but is in the bill
California lawmakers are considering. Instead, you can thank Blue 1
and Yellow 5 in combination — maybe with some Red 40 thrown in —
for the leafy color, whether the peas are in a mix of snack items or
on their own."
VANILLA CAKE MIX
Again, you may feel as though you're doing your best by avoiding
brightly colored cake mixes, but even "plain" cakes can
contain Yellow 5 to give the batter a richer and more buttery
appearance. "Products marketed as creamy, white, or lightly colored
often rely on additives to enhance appearance," Cornell said. "Common
examples include vanilla yogurt, vanilla cake mix, mayonnaise,
non-dairy creamers, marshmallows, light-colored soft drinks, powdered
sugar, and frosting."
BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING
Before you swap your cake mix for a different dessert, take a little
time to look closely at those labels, too. Certain flavors of pudding,
including butterscotch, can contain Yellow 6 and Yellow 5 to create a
brighter, creamier-looking color.
SALAD DRESSINGS
Before you top that salad, you may want to peek at the ingredients
list on your dressing. According to Cornell, "Natural oils and acidic
ingredients can cause color separation or fading, especially in
light-exposed bottles. Synthetic colors are often added to standardize
the look of creamy dressings, and maintain a consistent visually
appealing color." That can include titanium dioxide, "used in white or
light-colored dressings (like Caesar or ranch) to achieve opacity and
brightness," or Yellow No. 5, which "adds a warm yellow hue and often
used in French, honey mustard, or ranch dressing." Cornell added that
Yellow No. 6 is often used to give that deep orange hue to Thousand
Island dressing.
FLAVORED APPLESAUCE
Just like that flavored yogurt, anyone who wants to avoid added
synthetic food coloring may want to forgo pre-packed flavored
applesauce, particularly strawberry-flavored packets, which can
contain Red 40 to enhance their appearance.
INSTANT OATMEAL
During breakfast time, Poyourow says you should also check your
instant oatmeal packet, "especially strawberry or maple-brown sugar,"
as it may contain dyes that signal flavor cues to your
brain, including Red 40.
JAMS AND FRUIT SPREADS
"Food coloring helps replicate the look of ripe fruit, even when color
from real fruit is minimal, is lost during cooking, or fades over
time," Cornell said. Red No. 40, she added, is commonly used to
"enhance or standardize color in strawberry, raspberry, or cherry
spreads," while Yellow No. 6 is sometimes "added to orange marmalades,
peach, or apricot jams to intensify the warm orange tone."
PROCESSED MEATS AND SMOKED FISH
According to Cornell, Red No. 3 is "occasionally used to deepen red in
deli meats." The Environmental Working Group notes that it is
possible the same ingredient could have been used to enhance the color
of smoked salmon, including salmon cream cheese, too.
* food dyes
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* artificial colors and flavors
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* ultra processed foods
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