Another Azo-Dye Is Banned (Red 2G), this Time in the EU
sxc.hu | author: Matthew Bowden
Hold off on frying up those sausages and burgers you have in the bottom of your freezer before reading the following update: This week the European Union has officially banned the use of Red 2G, or E128 from being used as a food coloring because recent studies have proven that the “azo-dye” is a known cancer causing additive. It was originally permitted for use in low cereal-filled breakfast sausages and burger meats in Europe
“to restore original appearance of food whose color has been affected by processing, storage, packaging and distribution, whereby visual acceptability may have been impaired” [1].
This news isn’t a surprise, as studies since 1999 have been claiming its dangers and watch groups have been sounding off since the 1980s. Although Red 2G has not been legal in the States for quite some time, I should remind readers that this does not mean that consumers in the U.S. are safe from inadvertent consumption of this and other azo dyes.
The European Food Safety Authority raised the following safety concerns about Red 2G and its metabolite aniline in its opinion on July 5, 2007,
“aniline was genotoxic in vivo in rats and mice,… based on similar metabolism of aniline in animals and humans a carcinogenic risk for man cannot therefore be excluded”[link].
In lay-man’s terms, Red 2G converts to aniline, a known toxic compound, when it reaches the intestines. As a result, on July 20, 2007 the European Commission has unanimously approved a draft Regulation to suspend use of E128 as a food coloring.
According to G.D. Muir, aniline vapor is toxic when inhaled, absorbed through the skin or swallowed. It causes headaches, drowsiness, mental confusion and in severe cases convulsions. Long term exposure to the vapor over a period of time affects the blood and nervous system, causing tiredness, loss of appetite, headaches and dizzy spells [2]. Red 2G is already banned in Australia, Austria, Canada, Japan, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. It was recently banned in Ireland, Israel and Greece this July, this after decades of use.
Azo dyes are synthetic, meaning they are not found naturally in the environment. Red 2G is only one of several azo dyes, most of which are currently being used in several countries around the world. They are usually brilliant colors. Food colors such as Sunset Yellow, Yellow Dye #5 (Tartrazine), and Brilliant Black are other well known azo-dyes currently found on American grocers’ shelves. Perhaps these other dyes haven’t yet been determined carcinogens, but there are plenty of studies out there to prove that they can produce other very serious health conditions when consumed.
Many watch groups claim that Azo dyes also cause asthma and brain dysfunction/ hyperactivity in children [link]. Jacobson and Schardt, in a report that reviews 23 separate studies about the negative effects of food additives on children with ADHD says,
“The FDA should require certain new and existing additives to be tested for behavioral effects. It should consider banning from foods used widely by children any dyes and other additives that affect behavior” [3].
Article continues on next page…
Here is a report from Reuters:
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
“WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Certain artificial food colorings and other additives can worsen hyperactive behaviors in children aged 3 to 9, British researchers reported on Wednesday.”
to read the rest of the article go to:
Food additives may cause hyperactivity: study (reuters.com)
Dear Doctor,
My son has been put on many ADHD drugs trying to control hyperactivity. I noticed his temper tantrums and fits and inability to concentrate at about 4 years. He is a boy and he is young for his grade in school. He is now 9. Drugs have often times had unwanted side effects and little to no effect on his hyperactivity.
Last year we bought Nestle carmel ice cream topping or milk flavoring, a pretty common food product most everywhere. My child choose to drink milk with Carmel coloring for dinner three nights in a row, with food of course. After dinner his behavior became very irate, tantrums, maniac activity that culminated in fits about not wanting to go to bed! He would lay and rage in his bed crying, until he would fitfully go to sleep and then wake up screaming. Even once, he ran into out room and started screaming that he saw something in the corner that was not there! It was frightening!
That is when I began to make the connection. I looked at the label on the food and noticed the only thing in the Carmel flavoring was sugar and yellow food dyes. I have tried to cut yellow food dyes completely out of his diet. My husband thinks this is a joke. He thinks we are punishing him for an imagined connection, but when I do eliminate the yellow dyes ….we have no fits or manic behavior. What is your opinion? Why haven’t more people made these connections?
Wishing you good luck
And much happiness
Check out the Feingold organization. They have been around for over 30 years. Yellow dye #5 is very problematic for my son too. The azo dyes are neurotoxins. If you read Dr. Blaylock’s books, too you will see there is a lot of information about it. Another good resource is Doris Rapp’s book, “Is this Your Child?” For our son, corn in his diet was a major problem as far as his ability to pay attention and hyperness. Let’s just say that we had a nickname for him– “Tigger” that seemed to fit– he was just like the character from Winnie the Pooh.
Medical doctors are slowly catching on. Too many people are starting to avoid artificial foods and seeing improvements in their health and well being. Here is a Feingold page on the research.
My son had autism and adhd and has been doing very well. He had been acting unusually hyperactive and as I went through all our drinks and such I realized that we had added and have been pushing TANG. The old space drink for kids. While this drink is 1/2 the sugar as most drinks it contains a number of Artificial colors not mentioned and Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. So much for the space drink for now.