Content updated from previous publish date.

Skittles—sweet treats or toxic chemicals? A 2023 bill passed in California aims to ban several ingredients found in many candies and snack foods. The four ingredients that have been targeted by the state’s lawmakers are propylparaben, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and Red Dye 3.

These are toxic chemicals that can have negative impacts on physical and mental health.

The bill originally included another ingredient called titanium dioxide, which is found in Skittles. This led people to believe the popular candy would get yanked from store shelves, which is how the bill got nicknamed the “Skittles ban.”

But Skittles doesn’t have any of the ingredients named in the ban, so they will still be available for sale.

Just because they are on store shelves, however, doesn’t mean they’re good for your brain or mental health. In fact, Skittles and other foods and drinks that are red in color can have harmful effects. In part, this is because they contain another commonly used artificial food coloring called Red Dye 40.

The use of Red Dye 40 is concerning because it has been linked to a host of physical and mental health issues, including ADD/ADHD, allergies, immune disorders, mind storms (which are issues with the brain’s wiring or electrical activity), and even inflammatory bowel diseases.

Red Dye 40 has been linked to a host of physical and mental health issues, including ADD/ADHD, allergies, immune disorders, mind-storms, and even inflammatory bowel diseases.
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THE TRUTH ABOUT RED DYE 40

Horrifyingly, the food industry dumps 15 million pounds of artificial dyes into our food every year—over 40% of which is Red Dye 40, a petroleum-based substance. Red Dye 40 is the number-one food dye used in the United States, found in most unnaturally red foods. According to a 2010 article by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), consumption of artificial dyes has increased five-fold since 1955.

There are 9 artificial dyes used in our food supply that are certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Even though there are safe and natural alternatives available, artificial food dyes are a cheap way for manufacturers to make processed foods brighter and more appealing when you see it on a shelf in the grocery store. Manufacturers also choose artificial coloring because it provides more uniform colors compared to natural options.

Artificial dyes are also used to help hide the fact that many processed foods don’t contain much (or any) of the nutrients or foods they claim to have. For example, without Red Dye 40, the chocolate instant pudding would actually look green (because there’s VERY little real chocolate in it).

Although Red Dye 40 has been approved by the FDA for use in food products and must be listed as an ingredient on labels, it has been banned at one time or another throughout Australia and most of Europe due to health concerns.

SURPRISING FOOD ITEMS CONTAINING RED DYE 40

Not all of the foods with Red Dye 40 are red. You will also find it in brown, blue, green, orange, and even white food products, too. Take pickles for example. A combination of artificial dyes, including Red Dye 40, is used to give some pickles a more pronounced yellow-green color.

You can find Red Dye 40 in a wide range of foods and beverages, including:

• Candy
• Condiments
• Snack foods
• Baked goods
• Beverages
• Salad dressings
• Dairy products
• Frozen desserts
• Breakfast cereals
• Fruit bars
• Sauces

Food items aren’t the only place you’ll find this artificial coloring. Many personal care products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash, can be artificially dyed. Even more disconcerting, some prescription medications may be tinted with the stuff.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN RED DYE 40 AND ADD/ADHD

Multiple studies published in journals such as Pediatrics, The Lancet, and Journal of Pediatrics demonstrate that some children with ADD/ADHD may be adversely affected by artificial food dyes. Other research indicates that artificial coloring and flavors, as well as the preservative sodium benzoate, can make some non-ADD/ADHD kids hyperactive.

Some children who have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and are taking medications for the condition make such an improvement after eliminating Red Dye 40 from their diet that they are able to stop taking their prescription drugs.

Many parents who notice increased hyperactivity in their children after a sweet snack mistakenly blame a “sugar rush” for the bad behavior. But often, it’s the artificial food coloring that’s the real culprit.

Additionally, both adults and children have reported upset stomach, migraines, jitteriness, nervousness, and inability to concentrate after a high intake of Red Dye 40. The CSPI released a report that says artificial food dyes pose a “rainbow of risks,” including everything from allergies to cancer.

DOES RED DYE 40 TRIGGER ABNORMAL BRAIN ACTIVITY?

Artificial dyes may also trigger “mind-storms,” which are issues with the brain’s wiring or electrical activity. Your brain is the world’s most powerful hybrid electrochemical engine. It uses electricity and neurotransmitters to help you think, feel, and act. Abnormal electrical activity can not only change the activity of the brain, but it can also change your mind and cause mind storms that can be associated with temper outbursts, depression, suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, distractibility, and confusion.

CAN RED DYE 40 LEAD TO INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES?  

The downsides of Red Dye 40 also include problems with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). A 2022 study on mice in Nature Communications found that frequent consumption of artificially colored red foods like Lifesavers, Jell-O, and Gatorade increases the chances of developing an IBD, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

The findings suggest that long-term exposure to the dye in quantities commonly consumed in food products damages gut health and raises the risk of inflammation. According to the study, artificial food coloring impairs the gut’s lining, which typically acts as a barrier, allowing bacteria to permeate the gut and disrupting the microbiome.

“What we have found is striking and alarming, as this common synthetic food dye is a possible dietary trigger for IBDs,” said study author Waliul Khan in a press release. “This research is a significant advance in alerting the public on the potential harms of food dyes that we consume daily.”

RED DYE 40 AND THE BRAIN

The brain imaging work at Amen Clinics demonstrates that Red Dye 40 can dramatically affect brain function. Consider the case of Robert, a 15-year-old who underwent brain SPECT imaging at Amen Clinics. SPECT is a functional brain imaging tool that measures blood flow and activity in the brain.

His parents noticed that whenever Robert ate or drank something bright red, his behavior became aggressive and hostile. He would easily cry and storm off in a huff or throw things. They brought him to Amen Clinics to confirm their suspicions that he was reacting to these food additives.

As can be seen on this teen’s SPECT scan, his brain showed remarkable overall increased activity with exposure to Red Dye 40. In the images, blue equals average activity, red equals the top 15% of brain activity, and white equals the top 8% of brain activity.

After removing Red Dye 40 from his diet, Robert’s behavior improved dramatically. His mother strongly believes that their experience is not a unique one and that Red Dye 40 should be completely banned from our food supply.

HOW TO SPOT FOOD DYES ON NUTRITION LABELS

A new field called nutritional psychiatry shows how important food is for mental health, emotional well-being, cognitive function, and behavioral stability. Knowing that you are what you eat, no discussion about changing your diet can miss the importance of eliminating this substance!

To rid this artificial coloring from your family’s diet, you need to learn to scour nutrition labels. Red Dye 40 goes by many names. Look for any of these ingredients on labels:

• Allura Red
• Allura Red AC
• C.I. 16035
• C.I. Food Red 17
• FD&C Red No. 40
• Red 40
• Red No. 40

Be aware that even though food manufacturers are required to list the dye on nutrition labels, they don’t have to specify how much is included. Your best strategy is to steer clear.

HOW TO KNOW IF FOOD DYES ARE AFFECTING YOU 

An elimination diet can help you determine if artificial food dyes may be contributing to bothersome symptoms. For one month, cut out sugar, gluten, dairy, corn, and soy, as well as artificial dyes, additives, and preservatives to see if you feel better. Then add these substances back one at a time and be alert for reactions to them, which would indicate that you should permanently avoid that food.

Children (and adults) with ADD/ADHD, behavioral problems, or other issues may be experiencing sensitivity to artificial dyes like Red Dye 40 in their diet. At Amen Clinics, full evaluations include brain imaging as well as looking into the biological (including nutrition and diet), psychological, social, and spiritual factors that may be contributing to symptoms.

Amen Clinic offers in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.