Now that I have sparked your curiosity by telling you the true story of a food additive allergy (See blog “When I let go of who I am…), I am starting a 10 part series on Food Additives and the health consequences that accompany them.

I am starting my favorite obvious offender Red Dye # 40 because I have seen this mutant troll ruin the lifes of an undeserving woman and her family for 7 years!   This devious bandit is hiding undercover in more foods than you can possibly imagine, including something that I am serving my family for dinner tonight, Pillsbury crescent rolls.

Red Dye #40 debilitates the immune system -I  believe it’s the Michael Jordan of disease-causing  food additives.

Food coloring dates back to Ancient Egyptian writings as early as 1500BC.  In the late 1800’s chemically synthesized color additives were derived from coal and metal based compounds and actually contained some poisons (arsenic).  They used color to mask poor product and spoiled stock  from improper storage technology.  Documented injury and death from the tainted colorants demanded the necessity for “The Pure Food and Drug Act” passed in 1906.  This Act allowed the government to scrutinize the use of color additives.

By 1938, the FDA had successfully brought colorants  under stricter control by naming and assigning numbers to them. F for food use, D for drug use, and C for cosmetic use.  Hence Red Dye # 40 (FDC)  is the most commonly used food, drug, and cosmetic additive.  3 million pounds of this dye were manufactured in the year 1992 alone.   Today, it is by far the most commonly used colorant and hence–my new nemesis.  I will say that FDC yellow # 5, the second most commonly used dye,  will be put on hold because of its marriage Diet Mtn Dew, (my personal Bad Romance”).  Yellow Dye #5 causes adrenal tumors in rats!  More to come, I’ll have to go to an  AA  meeting or take abusive relationship course before I face the reality that I am emotionally dependant on this toxic relationship.  “Hi everyone, I’m Angela, and I’m a Diet Mtn. Dewaholic”  The first step is acceptance.

Next blog if you are interested:  The Foods that Contain Red Dye # 40 —Warning, it will be painful.

http://www.angelamd.com