Allura Red AC

Allura Red AC is a red azo dye that goes by several names, including FD&C Red 40. It is used as a food dye and has the E number E129.

It is usually supplied as its red sodium salt, but can also be used as the calcium and potassium salts. These salts are soluble in water. In solution, its maximum absorbance lies at about 504 nm.

Use as food color

Allura Red AC is a popular dye used worldwide. Annual production in 1980 was greater than 2.3 million kilograms.

The European Union approves Allura Red AC as a food colorant, but EU countries' local laws banning food colorants are preserved. In the United States, Allura Red AC is approved by the FDA for use in cosmetics, drugs, and food. When prepared as a lake it is disclosed as Red 40 Lake or Red 40 Aluminum Lake. It is used in some tattoo inks and is used in many products, such as cotton candy, soft drinks, cherry flavored products, children's medications, and dairy products. It is by far the most commonly used red dye in the United States, completely replacing amaranth (Red 2) and also replacing erythrosine (Red 3) in most applications due to the negative health effects of those two dyes.

Allura Red has been heavily studied by food safety groups in North America and Europe, and remains in wide use.

The UK FSA commissioned a study of six food dyes (tartrazine, Allura red, Ponceau 4R, Quinoline Yellow, sunset yellow, carmoisine (dubbed the "Southampton 6")), and sodium benzoate (a preservative) on children in the general population, who consumed them in beverages. The study found "a possible link between the consumption of these artificial colours and a sodium benzoate preservative and increased hyperactivity" in the children; the advisory committee to the FSA that evaluated the study also determined that because of study limitations, the results could not be extrapolated to the general population, and further testing was recommended.

The European regulatory community, with a stronger emphasis on the precautionary principle, required labelling and temporarily reduced the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for the food colorings; the UK FSA called for voluntary withdrawal of the colorings by food manufacturers. However, in 2009 the EFSA re-evaluated the data at hand and determined that "the available scientific evidence does not substantiate a link between the color additives and behavioral effects" and in 2014 after further review of the data, the EFSA restored the prior ADI levels. In 2015, the EFSA found that the exposure estimates did not exceed the ADI of 7 mg/kg per day in any population.

The US FDA did not make changes following the publication of the Southampton study, but following a citizen petition filed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest in 2008, requesting the FDA ban several food additives, the FDA commenced a review of the available evidence, and still made no changes.

Allura Red AC was at one time banned in Denmark, Belgium, France, and Switzerland, and was also banned in Sweden until the country joined the European Union in 1994. In Norway, and Iceland, it was banned between 1978 and 2001, a period in which azo dyes were only legally used in alcoholic beverages and some fish products.

Brain Health Guide To Red Dye #40

Posted: June 14, 2016 11:13 am

See if you can figure out what the following list of foods has in common:

• Kraft barbecue sauce
• Lasagna Hamburger Helper
• Del Monte fruit salad
• Nacho Cheese Doritos
• Welch’s Frozen Fruit Bars
• Duncan Hines Homestyle Vanilla Frosting
• Schweppes diet ginger ale
• Lipton Instant Ice Tea – Natural Lemon Flavor
• Maraschino Cherries

Besides being an unhealthy part of the Standard American Diet, if you guessed that they all contain Red Dye #40, you’d be correct.

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.

Even though there are safe and natural alternatives available, artificial food dyes are a cheap way for manufacturers to make food even brighter and more appealing when you see it on a shelf in the grocery store.

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 GROCERY STORE ITEMS WHERE RED DYE #40 LURKS

Not all of the foods with Red Dye #40 are red. You will also find it in brown, blue, orange, and even white food products, too. For example, without Red Dye #40, the chocolate instant pudding would actually look green (because there’s VERY little real chocolate in it).

You can find Red Dye #40 in a wide range of foods; candy, condiments, snack foods, baked goods, soda, juice, and salad dressings.

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 are adversely affected by artificial food dyes. Other recent 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 Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) recently released a report that says artificial food dyes pose a “rainbow of risks,” including everything from allergies to cancer.

RED DYE #40 AND THE BRAIN

Our brain imaging work also demonstrates that Red Dye #40 can dramatically affect brain function. Consider the case of Robert, a 15-year-old who was recently imaged at Amen Clinics. 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.

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

BECOME A LABEL PRO

Knowing that you are what you eat, no discussion about changing your diet for health 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.