Ever wonder why some food is neon pink and bright purple? Ever ask, “Where did that neon come from because neon is definitely not natural?!” Artificial colors of course!
Gummy Worms
Why are artificial colors added to so many foods? According to the FDA, color additives are used to make food more appealing to the eye. We may think it’s normal to see blue and neon pink foods because the FDA says that color additives are “an important part of practically all processed foods we eat.”
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Just because it’s become important, does that mean it’s necessary and more importantly, healthy? No! Actually, artificial colors have some scary side-effects, especially in children. Research shows that artificial colors can increase hyperactivity in children who did not normally exhibit the behavior before.
In a study done by Southampton University, children ages eight and nine displayed serious hyperactivity after receiving juice with coloring additives. Three-year-old children were even more adversely impacted.
So, it may not be the sugar in those jelly beans or packaged snack cakes that are making the kids bounce off the walls!
But, how could artificial colors ever be considered safe and healthy? Most of them are derived from petroleum – the stuff in gasoline and in tar. These chemicals were never intended for human consumption because they have been shown to cause disorders and mutations. Yet they’re on conventional grocery store shelves!
Well, the good news is: you won’t find artificial colors on Earth Fare’s shelves.
Jessica and Miranda shared their success stories with us – they tamed their kids’ hyperactivity by booting artificial colors from the kids’ diets! Do you have a similar story to share?
It is so ironic that I stumbled across this post today. After about 2 days of SERIOUS hyperactivity from my 3 year old that is not normally hyperactive, I realized that he had been eating fruit snacks laced with all sorts of dyes. I called up my mother and she confirmed that all those dyes did the same thing to me when I was about his age. Now we are in the process of getting all of that out of his system and heading to Earth Fare to find some alternatives! That’s actually why I stopped by the website today…to find some coupons! LOL!
@Felicia Well I’m so glad you found us!
Be sure to sign up for our weekly freebies, too – this week, we gave out watermelons.
sigen me up for weekly coupons and specials of week.
Well how about the dyes and colors in the crystal light packets we add to our water? I’ve noticed that I haven’t been able to sleep lately and I’ve been drinking more water and adding more flavored packets to my water. Could this same theory for kids apply to us adults as well???
I would love to shop at Earth Fare more often..but your store is such a long drive..do you think you will open a store in Hendersonville or Flat Rock anytime soon..??
@Rhoda, Not that I know of, but I’ll pass on your suggestion!
I love that you are helping people to become aware of the behavorial affects of artifical products in children. One of my daughters has a severe allergy to Red #40. It took lots of therapy appts and us wondering where we went wrong as parents before we realized it was what we were feeding her that was setting her off. I wish there was more awareness for this since there are so many kids that are on ADHD medication when most off the time all it takes is watching what they eat. Thanks for all the great info!!!!
All three of my children are sensitive to artificial food coloring. I am currently looking for dye free, apple, free and peanut safe candy for my children and that is why I visited this site. Thank you for spreading the word about food coloring. As a teacher, I plan on spreading the word and I appreciate everyone else who is doing the same.
Thanks, Krista! If enough of us are talking about this issue, people are bound to listen
I am so thankful that you all are spreading the word on the side effects of artificial food coloring added to food in respect to children. My 11 yr old has symptons of ADD. We have noticed this since she was 6 yrs old. We stay away from processed food as well as the artificial coloring. She rarely is exposed to the artificial colors, and when she is she tells me that she can tell that she struggles in focusing. I just hope people will listen and take control of what we are feeding our children. This effects their social and academic life so much.
I once worked with a man that turned to me one day at work and said, ” Do you know what F D & C Red or Yellow # 5 is?”
I had NO CLUE what this man meant! He said he was deathly allergic to either. I felt like an idiot, afraid to ask questions. So I called my Mom at lunch. She tells me food coloring!! Deathly allergic to food coloring??! What?! I had never heard of such. He started eating clean…in the early 1990′s…What was flax seed?! Anyway, I had a wake up call when I realized what all was in our food. He and his wife took me under their wing and began teaching me all they knew. I am now teaching my children to make those same choices. I am forever grateful to them.
I am thrilled my city got an Earth Fare a couple of months ago!! No gimmicks, no fads, just good, clean choices and an awesome shopping experience!!
I have been reading up on ear infections in young children, as my 3 year old son has a “chronic middle ear infection”. I am slightly disturbed by how lax I have become in the last year, and now I am turning back in the right direction regarding the eating habits of my two children and our family. Needless to say, I have thrown away a ton of sugary cereal and snacks and adding back lots of fruits and veggies.
I have researched and found that there is a link to additives in food to the functioning of the ear tubes in children. This is really hard for some people to digest, but something that I take this pretty seriously, as I am trying to prevent illness and ultimately my children’s pediatrician from recommending ear tubes. It can’t hurt to do without all the extra stuff you don’t need.
I AM NINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you think you would consider opening a new location in the Gastonia, NC area? I love your stores and think it would do great in Gastonia. Looking forward to hearing from you!
@Amy, I’ll pass on the suggestion! Thank you
I second the idea of a Gastonia store! I have to drive over an hour currently to get groceries. I did some reading on HFCS, artificial colors and dyes, and ADHD after my 3 year old got booted from preschool because he was exhibiting signs of ADHD. They were suggesting having the doctor medicate him – no way! So I realized the link and have changed his diet. And there is the occasion where he gets some “junk” food (from a grandparent, etc) and I can see such a difference in his behavior. He is a different child now that he’s off that stuff. That’s why I appreciate Earth Fare so much, because I can shop there with confidence knowing that those harmful ingredients aren’t carried in their products. Wow, I sound like a commercial!
If you are concerned about the use of food dyes in your child’s food, you might want to voice that concern to the school too. You never know when the teacher will use food dyes to color milk on holidays or give a snack that contains them. Just a thought for those with children highly sensitive to various artificial
ingredients
I am so thrilled to have an Earth Fare in the Auburn area. I don’t have to go all over to town or travel to Birmingham or Montgomery just to find wholesome, natural, real food. I can purchase items from your store with confidence. I know that I am giving my grandchildren none of those nasty artifical colors and dyes. Thank you Earth Fare.
I am so thankful for the Earthfare in Turkey Creek. I have many digestive problems and had difficulty finding foods at the regular grocery store. I started shopping at Earthfare and also found the vitamins and supplements I need to help with my stomach. They have everything I need to live healthy and “feel good” Thank you so much!!!
Thank YOU, Sue!
Just signed up and found this blog. I have an ADHD child and have know since he was small that certain foods made him more hyper than others. I found out more by trial and error than anything else of what to stay away from. Now that he is a teen he craves all the foods he needs to stay away from. Artificial food colorings is one of those things we learned to stay away from, as much as possible, and which, of course, attracts a kid the most. Wish I had this kind of resource 20 years ago for the whole family.
I’m glad you found us, @MRT!
We need a Earth Fare in New York A.S.A.P!!!!! Please!! I love this wedsite.
People assume just because it is on the store shelves, it must be ok. But the FDA works just as much for food corporations as they do for public health. As a government agency, they have to balance both interests. But consumers do not! We can avoid this poisonous garbage and feed our kids only wholesome whole foods. BTW, Don’t let your kids watch tv either. The ads are polluting their minds too.
I know several people with sensitivity to dyes…My Cats actually are sensitive to Red dye #40. There are very few cat foods that don’t have it. Not only do I read the labels for myself, I have to read them for my cats. The sensitivity is so severe…they lose their fur if they ingest it. If it does that to cats…What is it doing to us?
I am new too this website. I have just recently decided to go organic for many reasons. 1. I have so many issues with digesting food I believe that organic will just be better for me and 2. I have one child with ADHD and the other child is very hyper they are both boys and I am a firm believer that the artifical sweetners do increase hyperactivity in children also my daughter is very conscious about what she eats as they have taught her in her school about healthy food and we have been visiting the farmers market learning more about organic food. I know that organic food is a little more expensive so any tips of where I can get coupons would greatly be appreciated. I cant wait to the results of this journey and see if go organic will help with all the issues.
We would love a store in Weaverville, NC!! We need something in that area that offers organic products! Ingles has a few, but not enough!!
is it all artificial dyes that make children hyperactive? i’ve heard just the red 5 (or whatever) is what makes children so..lively.
i will keep my eyes peeled for more info :]
I have a child with autism that is very sensitive to artificial colors. They can cause not just hyperactivity but moodiness and aggression. We recently started following the Feingold Program and have seen major improvements. We are so thrilled to be able to shop at Earth Fare, it makes following the program easy and we can feel free to let her pick out a treat here and there like a regular kid without worrying about what’s in it.
I love Earth Fare the fresh produce and nice cuts of meat I love this. I have been on a healthier diet myself for years due to my lupus. I have learned with food how to keep from being ill. I have recently had a new addition to my family a new grandson and I have wanted him to eat healthy and so I have turned the whole family on to Earth Fare and now I have had several dinner parties for friends introducing them to a healthier way of eating and its great. I wish that the Earth Fare was a little closer but will still make the drive anytime for the best things for my family.
I am so glad that we have an Earth Fare in Huntsville, AL. I have always looked at what is in our food, studied and read about what unhealthy ingreadients can do to our bodies. I can spend an hour just checking labels, trying to make the right choices for my body. We may all have sensitivities we aren’t even aware of until we explore.
Thanks!!
I agree with rhoda galvani, I live in Lake Lure and I really dont want to drive 45-50 minutes to Earth Fare everyweek. A store in Hendersonville would be great I would stop shopping for food at Ingles in a heartbeat! :]
I Would LIke to SEE a Earthfare store in Hendersonville as well because I go there to shop alot in other stores visiting family and cousins that makes sense!! Go Guys!!
I love your store! I love the Natural Baking Company cookies. Do you think you could start stocking the brownies, as well?
It’s interesting that I stumbled on to this particular website. I have two children, both in their twenties now. They were both diagnosed add and adhd. My first clue about food additives and dyes came to olght when my son was about 2. I happened to be watching a talk show that featured a Dr. Feingold. He wrote a book( which I still have) called ” Is this your child”. When he discribed all the symptoms of food allergies, I just cried. It was everything I had tried to get many doctors to explore with my son. There is hope. My son is now 27 and has grown up eating healthy, dye free, preservative free foods. It was much harder to find 20 yrs ago. I am so glad Earthfare has come to our Tallassee. Great job!
I avoid artificial colors in my food, but also in cosmetics and toiletries. I make my own soaps and lotions. I battled dry skin for many years before buying “real” handmade soap for the first time. I was amazed and so began to research ingredients and before long, I was making batches of soap using herbs that I grew myself and natural colorants like rose hips, tumeric, etc. My skin is hydrated and soft.
I can’t wait for your store to open in Montgomery. I’ve already got it on my calender.
I really need to clean out my pantry then I have been trying to teach my parents how to eat organically but they arent having it. How do I get that clean out your pantry coupon? I just joined and I still don’t have the pantry makeover coupon.
Hi everyone! I am new to the list. I share paulette’s concern about dyes in animal food because my three children all grew up to be cats.
I heard that dyes are used in animal foods because they are treated with charcoal and would appear grey or black otherwise. Does anyone know if this is true? If so, why would their food have charcoal? I know this is a little off subject.
P.S. – I am really looking forward to the opening of the Fairlawn, OH store!