Red Food Dye 40 is a synthetic dye made from petroleum that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in food products. More cost-effective, easy to produce, and uniform in color, Red 40 has replaced many natural red food dyes, which are more susceptible to spoilage and less consistent in color. However, while the FDA has approved Red 40 for consumption, there are still questions about the impact this synthetically derived color has on our health.

Extensive research on animals and humans has shown that synthetic color additives such as Red 40 have links to ADHD symptoms and other neurobehavioral conditions. Although the FDA has stated that synthetic color additives had no adverse effects, their studies may not have been complete. Since their statements, further research has shown synthetic dyes can lead to ADHD symptoms and that some children are particularly sensitive to their effects. For children who already have ADHD, it is believed that dyes can exasperate their symptoms.

According to a report from the state of California conducted in 2021, research indicates that children who consume synthetic food dyes, including Red 40, may experience hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral issues. Experts believe that red dye 40 can cause this by:

• Depleting minerals that play a role in growth and development, including zinc and iron
• Causing chemical changes in the brain
• Increasing hypersensitivity to foods and other irritants, resulting in inflammation

A study conducted by the FDA revealed that between 2007 and 2010, some dyes were consumed by many individuals nearly every day:

• 98 % of 2-to-5-year-olds
• 95 % of teenage boys aged 13-18
• 94 % of the entire U.S. population aged 2 and up

With growing numbers of behavioral disorders among U.S. children, it is becoming increasingly important to protect them from potential exposure to foods that may exacerbate or contribute to their concerns. Although food dye sensitivities do vary between individuals, current research has indicated that adverse effects can occur in children with and without preexisting behavioral conditions like ADHD. Since the consumption of red food dye has quadrupled in the last 50 years, this can be cause for concern and its consumption should be more carefully monitored, both by the FDA and individual consumers.

In fact, independent studies in the United Kingdom found a link between food dyes and behavioral problems among their own population, which quickly led to reforms that controlled the use of these synthetic materials in food. By 2010, the European Union required most dyed foods to contain a warning label indicating the risks associated with this ingredient. While these companies may have adopted positive changes across Europe, manufacturers did not implement the same precautions for the American market, where many consumers are still unaware of the potential harm these ingredients can cause.

While the nutrition and ingredient labels on packaged foods may sometimes identify the dye as Red 40, many drinks will sometimes list the ingredient by other names, which include:

• Allura Red AC
• Red 40
• Red 40 Lake
• FD&C Red no. 40 Aluminum Lake
• FD&C Red no. 40
• E129
• CI Food Red 17
• INS no. 129

Unfortunately, Red 40 is one of the most commonly included color additives and is present in many foods and beverages that are popularly consumed in the American market:

• Energy and Sports drinks
  – Gatorade, Powerade, Sunny D
• Soda
  – Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, Lipton Iced Tea, Hawaiian Punch
• Cereals
  -Lucky Charms, Froot Loops, Trix, Captain Crunch
• Dairy Products
  -Flavored Yogurts, Ice Creams
• Candy
  -Jolly Ranchers, Twizzlers, Starburst, M&M’s, Skittles, Lifesavers, Smarties
• Chewing Gum
  – Bazooka Bubble Gum

While this list does cover many of the foods containing Red 40, it is by no means comprehensive, and there are thousands of products on the market today that contain this potentially hazardous ingredient.

What we can gather from this list is a sense of how widespread the use of this dye is in foods intended for consumption by children. With this information, individuals, parents, and caregivers can make better decisions about what they consume and the foods they provide to their family members. Although a simple soda may seem innocent enough, over time the consumption of inflammatory foods such as Red 40 can take their toll on our body’s systems, leading to chronic mental and physical health concerns with long-term implications.

Zarah Imam is a nutritionist based in Orange County, CA. She focuses on helping her clients with a range of conditions. She has a Masters’s Degree in Nutrition, Food Science, and Health Promotion from Mississippi State University and completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Irvine. As a nutritionist at Poppy Life Care Foundation, she focuses on women’s hormone health, weight loss, and gut microbiome health.

References:

Arnold, L. Eugene, et al. “Artificial Food Colors and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Symptoms: Conclusions to Dye For.” Neurotherapeutics, vol. 9, no. 3, 2012, pp. 599–609., https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-012-0133-x.
Karen Sosnoski, Ph.D. “Red Dye and ADHD: Is There a Link?” Psych Central, Psych Central, 17 Nov. 2021, https://psychcentral.com/adhd/red-dye-and-adhd.
MacNeil, Matt. “New Report Shows Artificial Food Coloring Causes Hyperactivity in Some Kids.” UC Berkeley Public Health, 24 May 2021, https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/news-media/research-highlights/new-report-shows-artificial-food-coloring-causes-hyperactivity-in-some-kids/.
“Red Dye 40 and ADHD: List of Foods, Symptoms, and More.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/red-dye-40-adhd#red-dye-40-and-adhd.
Seltenrich, Nate. “Food Dyes Linked to Attention and Activity Problems in Children.” EHN, 7 Dec. 2022, https://www.ehn.org/food-dyes-children-health-2652857895.html.