Yesterday, Kraft Foods announced it will stop using artificial preservatives and synthetic colors in its yellowish-orange Mac & Cheese, now a Federation favourite.
Consumer pressure in the USA escalated when blogger, Vani Hari, referred to as “Food Babe”, started addressing the issue.
For over three decades, concerns have been raised artificial additives in food and beverages.
The food dyes in Mac & Cheese are called Yellow # 5 and # 6. Yellow # 5 (Tartrazine) is primarily a food coloring. Yellow # 6 (Sunset Yellow) is found in foods, cosmetics and medications. Both dyes are derived from petroleum.
“Food Babe” and thousands of her readers (and many others) believe the dyes are linked to cancer, learning problems, hyperactivity, migraine, skin rashes and asthma.
According Foxnews.com, Yellow # 6 is banned in Finland, Norway and Australia.
WebMD.com reports that the US FDA approves additives if there is “reasonable certainty of no harm to consumers”.
Chief Medical Officer’s Note:
Artificial or synthetic preservatives, flavours, and colors have no nutritional value.
Consumers in St. Kitts and Nevis should carefully read labels before purchasing foods, beverages, cosmetics and medications.
Symptoms, such as migraine headache, hyperactivity, rashes and chest tightness, that seem to appear after consuming artificial additive-containing products, should be reported to a medical doctor for further analysis and advice.