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Why are food companies keeping dangerous dyes in American products while offering healthier options in other countries? The effects of artificial food dyes have been proven; why does this continue?

Ever wonder why Fruit Loops look different in Canada than in the U.S.? Here’s the disturbing truth: Major food companies deliberately use harmful artificial dyes in American children’s cereals while selling safer versions in other countries. Let’s break down exactly why this matters for your family’s health.

In this episode, I’m diving into the explosive “Cancel Kellogg’s” campaign and the scientific evidence that food companies don’t want you to see. We’re talking about petroleum-derived food dyes that have been linked to ADHD, behavioral issues, and learning problems in children – dyes that haven’t been properly reviewed by the FDA in over 40 YEARS.

Here’s what we’re covering:

• The real reason these artificial dyes are still in our food (spoiler: it’s not because they’re safe)
• Why food companies make safer versions for other countries but won’t do the same for U.S. kids
• The shocking levels of artificial dyes in popular cereals (hint: it’s WAY more than you think)
• How to read labels to spot these sneaky ingredients
• The groundbreaking California law that could change everything
• What you can DO about this issue (including a specific bill you can support right now)

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or just someone who cares about food safety, this episode will arm you with the knowledge you need to protect yourself and your loved ones. Plus, I’m sharing exactly how to make your voice heard in this fight for safer food.

Because here’s the truth: pissed-off moms are how we change this. And I’ll show you exactly how to channel that anger into action.

Who Is The Food Babe?

Let’s start with the basics. Vani, The Food Babe, is a well-known food advocate and the owner of Truvani, which makes cleaner protein powders and other products. She’s written books, done exposés, and testified before Congress. Her entire movement is about pushing food companies to clean up their act.

During her recent campaign, Vani worked with some of the leading food influencers and they testified before Congress that food companies are purposely using additives that cause cancer and health issues, and the reason why we have this massive chronic illness problem in America is because the food companies aren’t being held accountable. 

She started the hashtag #CancelKellogg’s. She gathered 400,000 signatures and hundreds of people marched to the headquarters of Kellogg’s to talk about why they use these food additives in U.S. foods. We know the effects of artificial food dyes are problematic for our health. Kellogg’s and other companies aren’t using them in Europe or Canada, so they’re making them full of artificial dyes in the United States, but in other countries, they use fruit juice as colorants. 

Vani wants to work with these companies to stop selling artificial dyes in the United States and sell a product that is as safe as all of the other versions they sell across the world. 

I’m not directly involved with the campaign, but I fully support it. It’s been interesting to watch from the outside.

California School Food Safety Act

This act officially bans red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 1, blue 2, and green 3 from any meals, drinks, or snacks served in public schools statewide. They have a couple of years to reformulate their foods, but the state of California has taken a stand. 

What happens when laws like this are passed? The state presents an idea for a new law and they have to put it in writing to justify it. The opposing side, in this case Kellogg’s association lobbyists, have to do the same thing. They write a report about why this law should not be passed. Both sides have to do research and bring the science to back up their points.

Throughout this year, as this bill was being passed, I got a front-row seat to hear the arguments against this new law. I also got to see the state regulatory agencies that have been studying food dyes for decades show all of their homework and studies. If you want to read the arguments on both sides.. here you go, you can nerd out like I did!

The opposing side always has this argument: As a matter of law, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has an extensive pre-market approval and market surveillance program for the use of synthetic food colors. But the last time the FDA reviewed Red 40 was in 1971. Yellow 5 was last looked at in 1969. Yellow Six was in 1986. Most of these things have not been studied extensively by the FDA in over 40 years. 

A California agency called The Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment has been studying the impacts of artificial dyes for over a decade. In 2021, they released their report called Health Effects Assessment: Potential Neurobehavioral Effects of Synthetic Food Dyes in Children. It concluded that synthetic food dyes are associated with adverse neurobehavioral effects, such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and restlessness in sensitive kids. They went on to say the evidence supports a relationship between food dye exposure and adverse behavioral outcomes in children. Animal studies indicate the effects of artificial food dyes on activity, memory, learning, changes in neurotransmitter systems in the brain, and microscopic changes in brain structure. 

I always tell people that this stuff is made from petroleum. It literally originated from coal tar. From a common sense perspective, do we want to be eating things that are made from petroleum and coal tar? 

I go into much more detail about the arguments on each side in the episode, but it’s all fascinating stuff. 

Taking a Stand

So what can you do? Put anything back on the shelf that says a color instead of saying a vegetable or fruit juice or is colored with some kind of plant. If you see the color blue, red, yellow, or green that’s your signal that artificial dyes are being used. Avoid it as much as possible. It’s almost always found in processed food. 

Pissed-off moms are how we change this. I say it all the time on Instagram. We are the ones that are raising our kids. We see the effects of artificial food dyes and these toxic exposures. We see chronic illness, and we are also the gatekeepers of our homes. We are the ones that, for the most part, are buying the things that come into our homes. We are making those choices for our families, and so where we spend our money matters. 

But I also want you to know you have a voice and you can pick up the phone. Call the people that represent you and tell them what you think. I want you to do the things that we, as moms, care about so we can collectively raise our voices. I’m going to give you a perfect option and a perfect opportunity to exercise that right to pick up the phone right now.

Safe Schools Meals Act

This is a bill that I am advocating for. It’s called the Safe School Meals Act S-5084. This bill would place limits on heavy metals, ban certain pesticides, and trigger safe reassessments of food additives. It would require the FDA to go back and reevaluate food dyes. It would ban forever chemicals, phthalates, hormone disruptors, and bisphenols in school food packaging and food. This would be huge for children in America. This bill would also give funding to fund all of those things. This would help more organic farmers get into the public school food system and start bringing better food for our kids. 

Here is a quick template of what to say:

Hi, my name is xxxxxxx, I am one of your constituents and the health of American families and my family is my priority and I want it to be your priority as well.  The Safe Schools Meals Act has been introduced and I am asking for you to support the passage of the bill.  Feeding our kids healthy, nutritious food at school is how we help our kids excel at school and begin to reduce the rate of chronic disease an obesity in our children.

—- feel free to add anything about why this topic is so important to you.

If the thought of picking up the phone and calling your representative scares you to death, I just want you to know they work for you. They work for you, and I have walked the halls of so many capitals and I’ve worked with so many state representatives and senators and I can tell you with complete and total transparency when the people that they represent pick up the phone and call them, they listen. Pick up the phone, and share your heart with them. Share what matters to you. 

I hope a year from now that I’m back here on this podcast and I am celebrating that we’re going to change the health of an entire generation of kids who are growing up right now because we got this bill passed.

If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please:

• Leave a positive review or rating wherever you listen
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• Want to ask me a question to get answered on the podcast? Leave me a voice message here.

Related Episodes:

Episode 83: The Ingredient to Avoid If You’re Concerned About Early Puberty in Children

Episode 91: Is Fluoride Toxic? The EPA’s Recent Fluoride Court Case and What It Means for You