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Walmart U.S. moves to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand foods

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Re: Walmart U.S. moves to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand foods

#71

Post by hgomersall »

dlivingston wrote: post #58
psunavy03 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But this is likely also an attempt to market to people who think things like "but I don't want to be exposed to chemicals" while not realizing water is a chemical.

Very funny, but also flippant and glib. When people -- myself included -- say they have a problem with chemicals in food, they of course mean artificial chemicals: that is, compounds, preservatives, dyes, and flavors that are non-naturally present for that particular food item and were added for their shelf life, taste, aesthetic, or addictive properties. Next time you visit your grocery store, go read the ingredient…

3. Long term effects are very hard to study and tease out.

4. Interactions are even harder to establish, since the possible different cocktails and biologies combinatorially explode. This is the primary reason for a precautionary principle in introducing new compounds into our diets.

Re: Walmart U.S. moves to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand foods

#72

Post by j45 »

timeinput wrote: post #44
j45 wrote: post #21

Hope this spreads to other countries.

Which other countries? I'm sure I'm simplifying things, but I think this ban is common practice at this point in most of the EU, Canada. Where else is hypercouloring cereal common?

The food additive laws vary a great deal between countries, even US/Canada/UK/EU/Japan. It's pretty eye opening.

A side effect is these substances may continue to be distributed in other countries.

Re: Walmart U.S. moves to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand foods

#73

Post by slowmovintarget »

fabian2k wrote: post #5

My understanding is that there are somewhat more restrictive regulations on food dyes in the EU compared to the US. But that overall there isn't a big concern about the majority of these dyes. There also isn't a fundamental difference between a synthetic and a natural dye. Okay, humans are more likely to have encountered a natural dye during their evolution and adapted to ingesting them. But that is unlikely to matte…

Yeah, Yellow dye #6 may cause testicular cancer, but I can't stand boring looking pastries. Sure people could use saffron, but that's expensive and we have to have cheap and good looking, right?

Ban 'em all. If it isn't already in the foods we eat, it doesn't belong.

Re: Walmart U.S. moves to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand foods

#74

Post by dcrazy »

pfexec wrote: post #53
fabian2k wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I want these decisions to be bases on scientific and medical data, not on gut feeling or unfounded personal belief. I have no issue with regulating specific dyes or additives in food, or groups of related chemicals. And your anecdote is not scientific data. You cannot draw any conclusions from that.

[flagged]

We don’t make decisions to ban foodstuffs based on whether they are “necessary to sustain life.”

Re: Walmart U.S. moves to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand foods

#75

Post by slowmovintarget »

psunavy03 wrote: post #10
fabian2k wrote: post #5

My understanding is that there are somewhat more restrictive regulations on food dyes in the EU compared to the US. But that overall there isn't a big concern about the majority of these dyes. There also isn't a fundamental difference between a synthetic and a natural dye. Okay, humans are more likely to have encountered a natural dye during their evolution and adapted to ingesting them. But that is unlikely to matte…

But this is likely also an attempt to market to people who think things like "but I don't want to be exposed to chemicals" while not realizing water is a chemical.

That comment is right up there with deliberately misunderstanding "Organic" food labeling for anything carbon-based.

Re: Walmart U.S. moves to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand foods

#77

Post by tayo42 »

pfexec wrote: post #37
fabian2k wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many artificial food dyes have been actually banned? I mean in the time where we actually had some regulations, the old days were quite wild in terms of safety in all areas, so I don't think that would be a useful comparison.

I'm in awe at the number of people that will go to bat for things like artificial dyes in food, only because the policy is coming from the present administration. It's just common sense. We don't need to be ingesting this shit. It's cosmetic and not needed for nutrition. Why are you feeding your child Fruit Loops and not Cheerios? I personally have known people who develop migraines after eating food with artificial…

If I want to eat fruit loops, why are you getting involved?

We have options and can make our own decisions about what to eat.

Re: Walmart U.S. moves to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand foods

#78

Post by bagful »

themafia wrote: post #8
fabian2k wrote: post #5

My understanding is that there are somewhat more restrictive regulations on food dyes in the EU compared to the US. But that overall there isn't a big concern about the majority of these dyes. There also isn't a fundamental difference between a synthetic and a natural dye. Okay, humans are more likely to have encountered a natural dye during their evolution and adapted to ingesting them. But that is unlikely to matte…

> It makes sense to evaluate the health effects of individual dyes I wonder if changing the color of food is actually that important.

Artificial colorants make it easier to design visually hyperstimulating foods without having to compromise on flavor. What could the upside for the consumer be, to disrupt our evolved associations between appearance and flavor?

Re: Walmart U.S. moves to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand foods

#79

Post by greygoo222 »

Retric wrote: post #28
fabian2k wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many artificial food dyes have been actually banned? I mean in the time where we actually had some regulations, the old days were quite wild in terms of safety in all areas, so I don't think that would be a useful comparison.

I don’t recall the exact number, but well over half that have been in common use were eventually banned. Edit Prior to this administration: Butter yellow, Green 1, Green 2, Orange 1, Orange 2, Orange B, Red 1, Red 2, Red 4, Red 32, Sudan 1, Violet 1, Yellow 1, Yellow 2, Yellow 3, Yellow 4 + some more in the really early days. EU had a longer list including Titanium dioxide.

Titanium dioxide is naturally occurring.

Re: Walmart U.S. moves to eliminate synthetic dyes across all private brand foods

#80

Post by greygoo222 »

pfexec wrote: post #37
fabian2k wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many artificial food dyes have been actually banned? I mean in the time where we actually had some regulations, the old days were quite wild in terms of safety in all areas, so I don't think that would be a useful comparison.

I'm in awe at the number of people that will go to bat for things like artificial dyes in food, only because the policy is coming from the present administration. It's just common sense. We don't need to be ingesting this shit. It's cosmetic and not needed for nutrition. Why are you feeding your child Fruit Loops and not Cheerios? I personally have known people who develop migraines after eating food with artificial…

You can live your life how you want. What the rest of us eat isn't your business.
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