Artificial+Colors

=//Chemicals ////in ////the Environment: //=

=//Artificial Colors //=

**Abstract**
There are mainly 7 colors used in the U.S. They consist of Blue No. 1 (Blue shade), Blue No. 2 (Dark Blue shade), Green No. 3 (Bluish green shade), Red No. 40 (Red shade), Red No.3 (Pink shade), Yellow No. 5 (Yellow shade), and Yellow No. 6 (Orange shade). Some of the chemicals used in artificial food dies can cause many diseases and human disorders like ADHD and male sterility. Food colorings are derived from petroleum jelly meaning it contains the chemicals in petroleum jelly. It also contains chemicals from coal tar. Artificial coloring is used in different sodas and junk food. Not only are they used in junk foods but they are found in salmon. Salmon farms use red or pink die to make their salmon look better and attract buyers. The buyers will think it is fresher and more appetizing. There have been petitions to ban artificial food colorings because of the diseases and health problems they cause. But most food colorings in the U.S. are still accepted. Food coloring used to be in tooth paste, but has been banned from being in there since April of 2005. The food coloring was the cause of some plaque buildup. Chemicals should be substituted with natural colorings. If these chemicals can cause such damage there is no hesitation that they should be banned in the US.

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**Background **
This chemical is used for the most parts in junk food to make them look more appetizing. Like I mentioned before, even salmon farms use the dies to make the fish look more appealing. Specific products it’s in is soda, chips, and fish. People associate certain flavors with color. So if something that people think of as being bright red, and it isn't, they will add food dye to the food to make it look how people want it to. The food coloring is a way to lure people into buying the food. The food dye makes the food look good, but it really isn't. Artificial food coloring is a world wide used product. The U.S. however, uses it more than other countries. Countries beside the U.S. have banned most of the food dyes. The reason why they banned artificial food coloring is because some of the chemicals used to make the dye can be dangerous to people's health. It can cause hyperactivity and injuries to your organs.

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**Chemistry **
Artificial food coloring is a substance made up of various chemicals. Most food coloring is synthesized in laboratories and can be tested on animals. To determine the toxicity, the food coloring is sent through a series of screen processes. During these screen processes, the chemical process of the substance can be refined.

People associate certain colors with certain flavors. Food coloring masks color loss in foods and can also be used for decoration, like on birthday cakes. Currently, there are seven main dyeing agents. The seven accepted food colorings are Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 40, Red No. 3, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6.

Blue 1 contains coal tar and is found in certain dairy products, sweet and drinks. Blue 2 was extracted from several types of plants and from two species of snails. It can be found in ice cream, baked goods and cookies. Green 3 is found in jellies, vegetables, fish and sauces. Red 40 is found in drinks, cosmetics and medications. The color is extracted from dried cochineal beetles and coal tar. Red 3 is used in printing inks, cherries, custard mixes and canned fruit. Yellow 5 can be found in instant puddings, mustard, yogurt, candy, noodles, pickles, chips, kool-aid, chewing gum and much more. Yellow 6 is found in squash, orange jelly, fortune cookies, hot chocolate mix, breadcrumbs and soft drinks.

There is such evidence that artificial coloring is bad for our bodies. New studies are proving that additives can be harmful and cause changes in human behavior. The FDA currently restricts the use of some dyes in our foods. Only nine certified colors are approved for use in food by the FDA. These are FD&C Blues 1 & 2, Green 3, Reds 3 & 40, Yellows 5 & 6. Orange B & Citrus Red 2. are restricted to specific uses, and Red 3 is joining them soon. Obviously there is some risk in these three FDA-approved colors, or their usage wouldn't be restricted. This proves that not everything found in our food is completely safe for us to ingest, especially in large quantities. The numbers of these certified colors should give you an idea just how many colors have been invented and aren't approved for use. Studies have shown that children who eat red dye are more likely to be active and out of control than those who avoid it. The chance is low, but it does mean that some children are sensitive to red dyes.
 * Human Health Implications **

Red 3 can increase thyroid hormone levels and lead to hyperthyroidism. Green 3 is poorly absorbed by the intestines. Yellow 5 is linked to early childhood Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and hyperactivity. Yellow 6 is capable of causing allergic reactions such as abdominal pain, hyperactivity, hives, nasal congestion, and bronchoconstriction, as well as kidney tumors, chromosomal damage, and distaste for food.

**Environmental/Economical/Political Implications **
Human systems that artificial coloring affects are the endocrine system. The endocrine system produces hormones and some artificial coloring, for an example Red 3, can increase thyroid hormone levels and lead to hyperthyroidism. None of the artificial colorings affect the environment directly, but poor proper disposal of products containing artificial coloring results in littering and poor treatment of our environment. Artificial coloring has no degrading system to how the artificial color degrades because it is all types of foods, some that degrade and some that do not degrade. If the product was banned, the original color would effect the use of products with artificial coloring because color makes a big difference. Some of these products have been already banned while it is legal to use in United States. Here are some : Indigotine, Indigo carmine, FD&C Blue No:2, synthetic coal tar dye. - Banned in Norway.

Sunset Yellow FCF, Orange Yellow S, FD&C Yellow No:6, CI Food yellow 3 - Banned in Finland, Norway and the UK.
====Yellow 2G, Acid yellow 17, CI Food yellow 5, Coal tar dye - Banned in Australia (1992), Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and USA ==== ====Tartrazine aka FD&C Yellow No:5; CI Acid Yellow23, CI Food Yellow 4. Coal tar dye. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon. - Banned in Norway, Austria and Finland. Restricted use in Sweden and Germany. ==== = = = = = = = = = = = = Trade is a big part of the world. Most countries make the majority of their money from trade. Some countries such as Europe and Canada, banned many toxins. In order for the U.S. to keep their trade with these countries, they have to change the toxins they put in their products to make it acceptable to trade to the other countries. The U.S. should have to change their products around because they still have to follow the laws in the other countries. The countries banned those toxins for a reason; to keep their people safe. So the U.S. should follow their rules in order to keep their trade with them.
 * Summary **

The bad thing about this though is the fact that the government is allowing these chemicals into our food. The ingredients in artificial food coloring can be very harmful to our bodies. Instead of chemicals why can't they use natural things, like seeds or certain plants to get the color they want instead of taking the risk in harming us?

http://www.avianweb.com/diseasescausedbytoxins.html
 * Sources **

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/04/05/12-dangerous-food-additives-the-dirty-dozen-food-additives-you-really-need-to-be-aware-of.htm

http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/ucm094211.htm#coloradd

http://www.ecostiletto.com/index.php?/Beauty/tbltts/

Heather, B. "B, Heather." Why You Should Avoid Products with Artificial Coloring May 2, 2007: n. pag. Web. 12 Mar 2010. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/227239/why_you_should_avoid_products_with.html?cat=69>.

rueician,. Colour Lovers n. pag. Web. 12 Mar 2010. <http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/09/19/the-7-wonders-of-the-food-coloring-world/>.

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