The 5 most dangerous types of food coloring

Food sometimes looks more attractive if it has a bright or colorful color. The food industry itself cannot be separated from preservatives and food coloring. This is because dyes are needed to increase the selling price and reduce the risk of spoiling food.

Well, if almost all processed food products use food coloring agents, you must be confused about which food coloring is dangerous and which is not. Don't worry, this article will tell you which dyes are dangerous.

Five types of food coloring that you should avoid

According to the American Chemical Society, there are some chocolate candies that are made from petroleum, aka crude oil. Not only that, some foods and drinks may contain dyes that can trigger cancer. Well, that is why, you must be vigilant every time you consume a variety of foods and drinks that have bright and attractive colors.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest or CSPI in the United States states that there are 5 types of food coloring that are dangerous and you should avoid them. Here's the list.

1. Caramel coloring

At first glance, caramel sounds delicious and tempting. However, the food coloring that is often found in candy and cola products is actually dangerous. The reason is, this dye when produced together with ammonia will contain cancer-causing contaminants, namely 2-methylimidazole (2-MI) and 4-methylimdiazole (4-MI).

These side effects actually depend on the type of caramel dye you consume. However, the maximum limit allowed by the Foods and Drug Administration or FDA in the United States (the equivalent of the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration) is 200 milligrams per kilogram of your body weight.

2. Allura red

Allura red, aka Red 40, contains benzidene, which is thought to be a carcinogen or a cancer trigger. In fast food restaurants (at least in America), allura red is used as a mixture for making strawberry ice cream. Not only that, this real dye can also hide anywhere including soft drinks and candy.

According to the FDA, the safe dose for Allura Red is 7 milligrams (mg) per kilogram of body weight.

3. Sunset yellow

Sunset yellow aka Yellow 6 is suspected of causing testicular and adrenal tumors. In addition, this dye also has the potential to cause allergic reactions and worsening asthma, hyperactivity, and anxiety. In the United States, a number of cases have been reported where excessive consumption of this dye can trigger ADHD.

According to the FDA, the safe dose for this dye is 3.75 milligrams (mg) per kilogram of body weight.

4. Blue diamond

Diamond blue, also known as Blue 1, is one of the most widely used food coloring. Generally, this dye is contained in candy, snacks, to teeth and mouth cleaning products. In fact, this dye can also be found in any food or material that is not even blue.

Diamond blue dye can penetrate the blood brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier itself is a protective shield whose job is to block the entry of harmful substances into the brain. Diamond blue dye can also cause nerve cell damage and cancer, chromosome damage, allergic reactions, and behavior changes.

According to the FDA, the safe dose for this dye is 12 milligrams (mg) per kilogram of body weight.

5. Yellow 5

Yellow 5, also known as tartazine, is harmful to health because it can cause a severe allergic reaction and damage the cell information system. In fact, according to the Feingold Association, Yellow 5 dye might lower your sperm count. In children, this dye is known to inhibit zinc absorption causing decreased growth, increased risk of infections and flu, weakened memory or memory, and decreased ability to concentrate. This dye is often combined with diamond blue dye (Blue 1) to produce a green color.

According to the FDA, the safe dose for this dye is 5 milligrams (mg) per kilogram of body weight.

So, how do you avoid dangerous food coloring?

The way to avoid dangerous food coloring is to read food and beverage packaging labels carefully so that you avoid all the effects as mentioned above.

Another great way is to limit your consumption of a variety of colorful, packaged foods and drinks. Eat healthy foods rich in natural nutrients. This not only prevents you from being exposed to the harmful effects of harmful food coloring alone, it can also maintain your overall health.