Food Coloring

Food coloring is in so many food items here in the United States, so much so, it's almost unbelievable to me! Food coloring is usually found in sweet items such as candy, cookies, cakes, pastries, drinks, and occasionally, in some salty snacks. (like flavored chips)  

 

With the holiday season in full swing right now, many people enjoy baking and making their own, homemade holiday treats such as Christmas cookies. Small bottles of food coloring appear with bowls of homemade frosting and colored sprinkles. I can picture the set up on our kitchen table when we decorate Christmas cookies. Red, green, and white sprinkles match the colors of the homemade frosting we make with added drops of food coloring. Gingerbread men shaped cookies often come with a small, red hot candy for the nose on ours. They are fun to decorate!     

Last year, I helped one of my sisters decorate Christmas cookies a day or two before Christmas, but decorating them was as far as I went. I didn't actually eat any of them myself. Why not? 

Because, in more recent years, I found out where some of our artificial food coloring comes from. (it usually has a number on the end of it)

Red food coloring, a common one, comes from none other than a small bug (yes, a bug!) called a cochineal or carmine. (yuck! no, thank you.)

Need a link to confirm this for you? Click on the one below. 

https://www.today.com/food/youre-eating-bugs-red-food-coloring-i542469

It grossed me out after discovering that. Who knew that our red food coloring came from a squashed bug? I sure didn't. But now that I know, none for me, thanks. 

What about blue, green, or yellow food coloring? 

Would you believe that blue food coloring comes from coal tar?! That doesn't appeal much more to me than the bug. 

Green food coloring? This one can vary, but that color usually contains something called propylene glycol, a substance found in antifreeze. (for real!) I'll definitely pass on that one too, thanks.    

  

Yellow food coloring? That color is usually made from something called tartrazine, a known carcinogen and cancer causing substance. I sure don't want to be consuming that one either. 

Need another link to read for extra confirmation? Read this one below. 

https://www.foodnerdinc.com/blogs/food-for-thought/artificial-food-coloring-no-thank-you

Earlier this year, I flew to California to visit a dear friend of mine. While I was there, I met a friend of hers, a dear, sweet woman who attends a small, church fellowship with my friend and her family. This Christian woman and I discovered that we were just two days apart in age! How fun! This woman and her husband have been blessed by God with nine children! 

In the course of our conversation, while sifting through food items, I noticed that she was reading many ingredient labels. What was she looking for? Food coloring. 

"You stay away from food coloring too?" I asked with a smile. 

"Oh yes!" she said. "I can see the affects in my children when they have it!" 

I felt so happy that someone else knew how incredibly bad food coloring is for our health. 

     

Those of you who have the blessed privilege of being a mother, please, watch out for food coloring on ingredient labels! Brightly colored drinks are some of the worst! (like Kool-Aid)   

I celebrated my 39th birthday this fall and chose carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert. (a treat!) We purchased the cake for a good price at a local grocery store, but before picking it up, I specifically asked someone in the bakery if they could take off or leave off the orange "carrot" on top. (extra frosting with food coloring!) They did. I was delighted. (I hate extra frosting on a cake, often loaded with sugar and food coloring.) 

Usually, I prefer salty snacks over sweet ones. Believe it or not, one of my favorite kinds of chips is the "cool ranch" Doritos, the ones that come in the blue Doritos bag. I know. They're far from healthy, but I like them. 

Take a look at the ingredients though. See the ones near the end?    

Red, blue, and yellow artificial color. I could hardly believe it when I saw that more recently. For that reason, I try to stay away from Doritos now. 

If I want a salty snack, I'll reach for salty pretzels or tortilla chips instead. Those are far better than something like Doritos or Cheetos. (Cheetos is another one to watch out for. They taste delicious, but sadly, they also have food coloring added to them.) 

And the Christmas cookies last year? I didn't miss out. 

On Christmas Eve, my family usually serves an array of finger foods which includes treats we don't eat all the time. Many of these treats are given to us from friends and neighbors a day or two before Christmas. My mom sets them out on Christmas Eve for us to enjoy.  

Among those treats are many, home baked goodies such as: yogurt and chocolate covered pretzels, sugar cookies with Hershey kisses in the center, peanut brittle, English toffee (my favorite!), chocolate fudge, chocolate truffles, and the list goes on. We also have a nice spread of other things, of course, which includes many, brightly colored, freshly sliced, raw veggies (I load up my plate on those!) with ranch dip, along with hard and soft cheeses, served with crackers, and a seasoned, summer sausage, log that we slice. (we get an all natural, packaged, seasoned turkey log at a store we have called "Trader Joe's". It is delicious, tastes like beef, and is an excellent price!)  

I didn't miss out on anything by avoiding those Christmas cookies made with food coloring. 

Not all food coloring is made from artificial coloring, but most of our food products here in the United States using food coloring use the artificial kind. Candy is loaded with artificial food coloring! (another good reason to reach for a chocolate bar or Hershey kisses instead if you're going to eat candy!) Food coloring can also be found in some salad dressings and even in some pickles.  

Some grocery stores carry all natural food coloring for those who enjoy making colorful stuff. Natural food coloring is usually made from things like beets and corn - healthy colors that God made!   

Feeling overwhelmed? I share this because I care about others. My heart is to inform and make people aware of things that could be hurting them without them realizing it. 

Eat colors that God created, not man made ones. 

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, and I have no medical training. The things I share on this blog are simple, practical things that I've learned help with good health.