Red #40 – A Colorful Killer

Manufacturers use artificial dyes to make our foods look more appealing and fresher. Unfortunately, many of these food dies are very dangerous to our health. Red #40 is one of these harmful food additives; in fact, it’s the most commonly used artificial coloring used in foods. Many people have had adverse reactions to Red #40, and some have even seen severe personality changes and increased hyperactivity in their children.

We’ve already discussed how MSG, BHA and BHT and pesticides are all contributing to what I have coined as the “ADHD phenomenon”. Red #40 is also a big contributor…so, just to sum it up, the food industries are putting these chemicals in our food that are causing our children to become sick, then we have to pay money for the doctors to give us more drugs for our children to take!

Who’s losing out?? WE ARE! Think of all the families that only make enough money to cover their bills each month…how can they afford extra medical payments? The best solution is to stop feeding our kids these terrible chemicals!!

Red #40 causes hyperactivity in children, caused immune-system tumors in animal studies, and has caused many people to have severe allergic reactions ranging from hives and swelling, to anaphylactic shock. Yeah, it really sounds safe, doesn’t it???

On top of all that, Red #40 contains ingredients known to cause cancer. None of the industries want to stop the use of products such as these, because everyone will lose money (the food companies, and the medical field).

It is best to avoid the ingestion of this colorful killer altogether. Any foods that are colored red, pink, purple or orange may contain Red #40; some apples are even injected with it to increase the brightness of the color.

When you read the food labels, look for either “Red #40” or “Red #40 Lake”. The word “lake” afterwards means it was made water soluble by mixing the dye with aluminum hydroxide. This practice is most commonly seen in pills (so the color doesn’t fade) but is in some foods as well.

Let’s take back the power over our kids’ lives and stop eating these terrible chemicals the food industries are trying to kill us with!!!!

44 Comments

  1. Norm Benedict on July 7, 2010 at 9:32 am

    There is a move on now in Washington to get the FDA to ban the most flagrant of the synthetic dyes. The group heading the fight is the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)… you can find out more on their site.

    Meanwhile, those interested might want to check out a company that has perfect a natural alternative to synthetic dyes. The company is called Suntava and is located in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Go to http://www.suntava.com



  2. Ashley on September 10, 2010 at 8:37 am

    hey, nice blog…really like it and added to bookmarks. keep up with good work



  3. Jeremiah on January 9, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    Thanks for the info! Although I think at the end there you meant that the lakes make the dye water-insoluble. Since dyes are I think usually already water soluble, until the aluminium hydroxide makes it insoluble for use in pills, gumballs, etc.



  4. l on March 12, 2015 at 7:55 pm

    please list the studies, dates, and research facilities that you use to draw our conclusions.
    everyone claims it is bad but no one ever actually references ANY study or hard data.

    Red #40 has fewer health risks associated with it in comparison to other azo dyes. There is no evidence to support broad claims that food coloring causes food intolerance and ADHD-like behavior in children.(reference: Tomaska LD and Brooke-Taylor, S. Food Additives – General pp 449-454 in Encyclopedia of Food Safety, Vol 2: Hazards and Diseases. Eds, Motarjemi Y et al. Academic Press, 2013. ISBN 9780123786135) It is possible that certain food coloring may act as a trigger in those who are genetically predisposed, but the evidence is weak.

    you are incorrect about the solubility the MSDS for FD & C Red #40 Al Lk Solubility in water states: Insoluble in water, (may be slightly soluble in water).

    A lake is a solid, non water soluble form of a dye. It’s produced by mixing the dye with Aluminum Hydroxide. By itself Aluminum Hydroxide is a safe food ingredient and it’s often sold as an antacid. When combined with Red Dye #40, the chemicals form a deep red powder that can be applied to the outsides of tablets, gumballs and other solids. You may also notice this form listed in the ingredients as “Red 40 Aluminum Lake”
    Most time the problem colorant is yellow 5 NOT Red 40 Al. Lk.

    Most of these studies are out of date or can only say there is a possible link or data may have been tainted by other factor not considered (such as if catecholamines, amino acids, fatty acid, or vitamin levels are out of balance; which DO affect behavior more directly and immediately than a little food coloring).

    Most time the problem colorant is yellow 5 NOT Red 40 Al. Lk.

    can’t help it if your kids are defective.

    lot of unsubstantiated information here.



  5. l on March 12, 2015 at 7:56 pm

    probably won’t have the courage to post a view opposing your nonsense.



  6. mx on May 16, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    Typical American! Always a conspiracy! Paranoia at its best!



  7. jordan on May 19, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    Just wanted to clarify “lake” indicates the dye is NOT water soluble. The article states it IS water soluble to prevent pills and such from fading. They use the preferred “lake” form to keep the dye from running when water is introduced.
    Regardless these dyes are so unnecessary and really should be banned. It’s insulting that Big Pharma, Nabisco, and the FDA all think we are incapable of accepting food the color of food and pills the color of… Whatever pills would be without poison. It’s in all the dog and cat foods too. Anytime over had to settle for less expensive pet food colored with this crap my kiddos have puked after reading every single time.



  8. Debora Biser on July 31, 2015 at 7:22 am

    Once the body gets rid of the long staying waste or toxins, it’s
    actually a lot easier for the body to accomplish its process in losing weight.
    In case, should you not contain the time for it to join any extra classes, try to
    get more physical activity included within your routine: instead of utilizing the bus if you are going
    for shopping, you are able to carry on foot. This will therefore increase
    the risk for food to maneuver too fast over the small intestine and therefore this will avoid the absorption in the nutrients and the calories in the body.



  9. Dan on September 12, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    Is this all just conjecture or can you actually explain how Red 40 actually does what you’re claiming? It’s not good enough to just go on the Internet and say that something causes the things you’re claiming without something to support it. If you don’t back a thing up, people can only assume it’s your opinion.

    It’s so noisy online. I appreciate your wish to help people, but you’re just making them more confused when you “help them” in this way.



  10. Brianna on November 9, 2015 at 9:36 pm

    I am studying to become an RD and I was doing some research on artificial flavors and colors. I would like to use the information that you have provided in a presentation that I am doing in a couple of weeks, but it is important that I know what research articles were used while writing this article as well as what your credentials are. Thank you.



  11. John Doe on November 11, 2015 at 11:13 am

    Hey, this is kind of inaccurate. First of all, artificial food colorings don’t cause ADHD. That’s just silly. Second, the addition of Aluminum Hydroxide makes the dye INsoluble, which is the opposite of soluble. Basically, it changes the makeup of the dye so it doesn’t wash off in water. Also, in the amounts used by the food industry, Aluminum Hydroxide is completely safe for consumption. It’s actually sold as an antacid in some places.



  12. Tom Compise on November 12, 2015 at 1:25 pm

    So these companies are trying to kill us so that we can not continue to buy their products? What?



  13. Jkandjk LGK2015 on January 14, 2016 at 6:34 pm

    Really ? Because its in the food still . thanks for trying but remember everyone that dies if they eat it and have a problem its on your own head when God Comes Back. God Bless And Keep Us Safe.



  14. Christopher Michas on February 21, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    Hi just curious where you get your data? I am a father of 3 girls under 10 and frequently check food labels as my oldest has a tree nut allergy. However I’m concerned because you don’t cite any sources so there is no way to confirm any of your statements. I’m not illuding to your honesty it’s just that I’m an academic and checking sources is an important part of any research project. Could you publish a list of sources so we can see how you drew your conclusions? Thank you.



  15. Marty Miller on February 26, 2016 at 3:01 pm

    My goodness, this is terrible. Till now I use to scoff and chuckle when I read, “red #40 lake.”
    I would think, “ah, red#39 lake just wasn’t cuttin it huh?”
    Then I would go to enjoy the rest of my Doritos chips or skittles candy.
    I never bothered doing a web search until The Lord recently prompted me to do so.
    Thank you for your work,



  16. Scared on March 25, 2016 at 1:46 pm

    This is really scary, I’m only 10 and I was eating some skittles. I looked at the ingredients and saw red 40. I remembered that one of my classmates has a allergy to it so I looked it up. Now that I learned about it its more than just some creepy name on a food label, it’s creepy itself! I feel so scared, I don’t want to get cancer.
    I have also noticed I have been acting more strange. I don’t know how to explain. Maybe I have been eating red 40 🙁



  17. giles on April 2, 2016 at 3:43 pm

    We are in France and Bought some imported candy cane bubble gum for my boy. He went mental on it and was climbing the walls. We are so lucky in Europe that most of this rubbish is banned or not tolerated. How can you let thus stuff be sold get heavy with the manufacturers it isn’t necessary and should not be allowed. Needless to say we threw this junk away.



  18. Dayana on April 15, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    Hi I eat takis and I ate about 3/4 I don’t eat this all the time but well it actually cause cancer? I don’t know if I should finish it!



  19. Kyle on April 28, 2016 at 6:21 am

    Hey guys I’m just going to say that red lake #4 is really dangerous… I had A LOT of spicy chips that had that stuff in it and I have had stomach problems ever since… so to sum it up, if you dont want stomach pain 24/7, occasional tremors at night,bowel issues,or decreased athletic ability, DO NOT EAT RED LAKE #40!!!



  20. Thank you for the info on May 19, 2016 at 3:58 pm

    It’s no wonder so many kids have autism



  21. Jay on July 15, 2016 at 12:52 pm

    Lake means it’s not water soluble. You should also provide sources where you got your information from.



  22. really on August 24, 2016 at 9:51 am

    Yeah…. none of this is true. Have any actual data to back this up?



  23. Jc on January 1, 2017 at 9:30 am

    Kudos for trying to get this message out there. There is plenty of research to back this up. This site has some good info as well: http://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-red-dye-40-toxic



  24. SweetJesus on January 18, 2017 at 7:15 pm

    I feel like you’re one of those people who thinks vaccines cause autism. Tell me if I’m wrong.



  25. Mark Silva on February 23, 2017 at 10:04 pm

    Would you call peanut butter a killer because some people are terribly allergic to it?
    Let’s see the research for claims like these.
    Also, don’t you think eating a lot of spicy chips might upset your stomach regardless of the coloring used? Hmmmm
    MS
    Mt. View, Ca



  26. wtf on February 27, 2017 at 2:23 pm

    The FDA has not banned this dye, so where are you getting your resources from. One study with rats? It is on the list of dyes that requires certification but not banned for health risks…..



  27. dont read last comments on March 2, 2017 at 5:18 pm

    food dye is cancerous not just to rats



  28. therealtalk on March 6, 2017 at 12:15 pm

    well hey im just saying i eat it lots of people do and they are perfectly ien mabey your kids have an dallegy to it ok most these blogs are the parents that check every little thing soccor moms yoga pants moms like jeez



  29. therealtalk on March 6, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    You are one of those homeopathic type people arnt you that believes estinal oils solves everything and stuff like that you probably shop at sprouts or whole foods and shove lettuce down your kids throats i mean really just chill a bit you have no evidence and and nothing to back this up just your mom blogs so just chill lady



  30. jazmine on March 16, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    wow great guys really (~~)



  31. Nigga on April 20, 2017 at 11:51 pm

    Well get your kids vaccinated hipster



  32. Brianna Rodvelt on April 25, 2017 at 9:13 pm

    I never eat red 40 it really really bad for you my grandma died from cancer from that



  33. Screaming for psychology on June 15, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    I have ADD and let me tell you first hand ADD and ADHD are genetic, not caused by some silly food dye. Actually research this kind of stuff instead of just saying something that makes next to no sense.



  34. Shadyshadow on June 19, 2017 at 10:58 pm

    Food dyes cause cancer, tv’s emit radiation, fast food has added chemicals to cause addiction, and of course cell phones scramble our brain waves. We are ALL screwed I guess. Might as well enjoy it before it all destroys us. Trump sucks Antichrist



  35. Melanie on July 18, 2017 at 2:00 am

    Everyone who is commenting that this is not true, you have obviously not done your research. You can google this information yourselves and find that this dye along with many other dyes have been banned in other countries because of their harmful effects. She isn’t making this stuff up! The US is a twisted money hungry country and will do anything to keep the money coming in. Do your research people!



  36. Jessica on July 24, 2017 at 1:26 am

    Hi!
    Please contact me at the email provided, I am very interested in exposing more people to the harmful effects of red dye, and all dyes! I see my 6 year old daughter turn into a different kid when she has it(totally raged out), as well as thousands of other parents. Lets make a documentary!! 🙂



  37. Larry on August 11, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    I ate Red Dye extract because of a dare and now I have autism. Is your joke still funny ??



  38. Arlene Vernon on October 1, 2017 at 4:44 pm

    Leave it to me to find out that my favorite candy is trying to kill me. I have Lupus and I am sensitive to a lot of foods. About 4 weeks ago, I started eating sweet tarts every night for a snack. About a week after I started having an itchy scalp and I have changed shampoos and put on anti itch creams, etc. now, my entire body is itchy and I have a rash all over. I didn’t think about the candy until my husband said maybe it was my sweettarts. So, I thought I would research the ingredients. So now, I guess no more sweettarts for me! If I kept it up and continued to eat them, I probably would be on steroids and still wouldn’t know what was going on!!!



  39. Truth Exists read between the lies on November 4, 2017 at 1:34 am

    Years ago while traveling for work I commonly purchased those round melt in your mouth not in your hand favorites, just a comfort food at night. The following day I would get rashes on my arms. I thought originally it was the hotel until I realized that it happened in all hotels. The only coincidence was the candy I was eating at hotels which was the only time I would eat it.
    I started doing research (which can be found all over the web and it’s not all bias) and some very compelling side effect reports and symptoms shared in common with mine were discovered. I have completely cut food coloring out of my diet and have not suffered from these same symptoms since. On occasion, dinner party’s or not my choice of cooking when food coloring is ingested I will get rashes or even worse symptoms like my lymph node glands becoming inflamed or sore. You are what you eat…. It’s true.

    ADHD…. that used to be my 3 yo. after a sleep over at grandmas and all the choice colored candy and potato chips, blah blah junk food. MAJOR effect or should I say Defect. Not the same kid until she gets some good nutrition back in her system. Since “nana” was privy to exposure of side effects things have been way different since changing the menu for the weekend. Candy without the dye is no problem eat a full bag, it doesn’t matter.
    Don’t even get me started on vaccinations……. mutations, mutations, mutations. The writing is on the wall. You got to WANT to see it.



  40. A Chemist on December 17, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    Red 40 was part of a study by the UK FSA (equivalent to the FDA) that only found a POSSIBLE link between it and increased hyperactivity in children. It was overall inconclusive due to study limitations and the FSA advisory committee stated that it could not be extrapolated to the general population. In 2009 the EFSA reevaluated the data: “the available scientific evidence does not substantiate a link between the color additives and behavioral effects”

    The article I read on Red 40 also makes no mention of it causing cancer.

    As much as your concern for safety is appreciated, please base it on actual facts instead of scaremongering. This information wasn’t even hard to find, it took under a minute to find using google.



  41. Kenny on March 23, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    Google:
    “aluminum hydroxide” good or bad



  42. D on June 20, 2018 at 7:46 am

    My 6 year old son reacts poorly to foods with Red 40, Lake or otherwise. I don’t have any medical research to back this up, just personal testimonyand trial and error. We suspected ADHD so took him to his pediatrician to confirm and also to a neurologist who scanned his brain and confirmed ADHD from brainwave signatures. While the RED chemicals may not cause ADHD/ADD, they certainly trigger it and our child becomes severely beligerant and aggressive and it lasts for several hours and sometimes into the next day. When the storm finally passes, he has no recollection of his behaviors. We’re doing everything we can to out an eagle eye on what he is eating, however sometimes a fruit snack or popsicle sneaks through and whoa be to the person that gets in his way within an hour of eating items with RED 40 in it. For those of you who are naysayers and think there is no link between the RED dyes and behaviors, all I can say is you’re ignorant and you should really take some stock in the first hand testimony of a parent who watches their child go from nice to nasty in a matter of minutes because of what they have eaten. Realize that as a parent of a child that has this affliction, we’ve tried just about everything we can think of to find the root of the undesired behaviors, and dissecting his food is one of those steps in the process that seems to get some answers.



  43. Robert Johnston on July 10, 2018 at 12:03 pm

    Do not consume anything with aluminum in it. The other factors at play with these unnecessary dyes is a second issue, but as soon as aluminum is involved, do not consume it. Do not listen to anyone who says something is not harmful in small amounts. By what measure? Your apathy and irresponsibility? Someone’s corporate lobbyist agenda? Someone’s old granny’s advice from 70 years ago who was never informed about the nature of this issue? Accumulating damage from something like aluminum is real and to be avoided. Aluminum is NOT a nutrient, causes many cellular-level problems and which the body has an extremely difficult time getting rid of. Do not let your children consume any of these compounds. Do not use aluminum pots, frying pans, storage cans/jars or utensils in the kitchen.



  44. AMY on August 5, 2019 at 4:50 pm

    To the guy who states he’s an academic, and then says he’s not “Illuding” to her honesty…well isn’t that special. Here’s the bottom line folks…STOP EATING AND FEEDING DYED CRAP FOOD TO YOUR KIDS! PERIOD. ARE YOU SO STUPID AND ARE YOUR KIDS SO STUPID THAT YOU CAN’T EATR FOOD UNLESS IT’S ARTIFICIALLY COLORED!?



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