By Jesse Newman
They are a half-inch big, rainbow-colored and crunchy—and at the center of a political food fight.
Froot Loops maker WK Kellogg KLG 0.47%increase; green up pointing triangle has been under fire for months over its use of artificial food dyes. Now one of the company’s highest-profile critics, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been tapped to become the country’s top health official and has vowed to target artificial dyes in cereal that he says contribute to widespread health problems, particularly in children.
“They get brighter colors in Froot Loops, but it’s literally poisoning our kids,” Kennedy said in a Fox News interview in September. Kellogg said the colors it uses in its cereals have been deemed safe by scientific bodies around the world.
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Kennedy to serve as Health and Human Services secretary, offering a platform to pursue his stated mission of combating chronic disease in the U.S. by ridding the country’s food supply of harmful chemicals and ingredients. Kennedy, a longtime detractor of processed foods, says companies know that artificial dyes are problematic but use them anyway because they are cheaper than natural alternatives.
Artificial dyes appear in nearly every aisle of U.S. grocery stores. They give foods like Froot Loops, Skittles and M&M’s their vibrant colors, and help enliven the appearance of everything from pickles to pie crusts and processed meat.
Many companies over the years have sought to shed additives to appease consumers’ desire for simpler ingredients. But U.S. shoppers have sometimes revolted when food makers switched to more natural, but less colorful and less tasty, alternatives.
At the same time, some companies sell dye-free versions of U.S. products in other countries. Some overseas governments restrict the use of certain food dyes.
Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
The South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service.
In no event shall the South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service. The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice.
The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components
