1 Down, 6 To Go: Tell the FDA to Ban Neurotoxic Food Dyes!


A ban on neurotoxic food dyes is long overdue! Beets, red cabbage, and black currants make great red dyes– that’s what’s used in organic food (if it’s colored at all). But, the FDA continues to allow petroleum-derived synthetics to be used in thousands of different foods and drinks sold in the U.S., including frozen desserts, cocktail cherries, breakfast cereals, candy, sugary drinks, and cake frosting. The Biden Administration finally banned Red 3, but Red 40 and several others remain.

TAKE ACTION: Tell the FDA to Ban Neurotoxic Food Dyes!

Red 40 isn’t allowed in foods in the U.K. or E.U. without labels warning it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." That’s after research commissioned by British food authorities in 2007 linked hyperactivity in children to mixtures of synthetic dyes. The FDA has never evaluated the science on the neurotoxic effects of Red 40.

In 2021, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment published its investigation finding the seven most widely used synthetic food dyes—Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6—can cause or exacerbate neurobehavioral problems in children.

TAKE ACTION: Tell the FDA to Ban Neurotoxic Food Dyes!

Sign the Petition

 PETITION TO THE FDA

A ban on neurotoxic red food dyes is long overdue.

Please ban the six most widely used synthetic food dyes—Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6–which California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has found can cause or exacerbate neurobehavioral problems in children.

Thank you.