CSPI Claims Food Colorings are Deceptive
And I agree…
Tropicana Twister Cherry Berry Blast has no cherry juice. Nor does it have any berry juice. Despite the pictures of cherries and berries on the label, this drink gets much of its dark red color from the controversial dye, Red 40. The Center for Science in the Public Interest says that’s deceptive.
…Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Mix has no carrots, as such. Instead, it has “carrot flavored pieces” made with corn syrup, flour, corn cereal, partially hydrogenated cottonseed and/or soybean oil, a small amount of “carrot powder,” unspecified artificial color, and Yellow 6 and Red 40. Most varieties of Mt. Olive and Vlassic pickles appear greener and fresher thanks to Yellow 5. Kraft Light Catalina Salad Dressing contains Red 40. And caramel coloring and cocoa darken Pepperidge Farm Pumpernickel Bread.
“Betty Crocker is certainly free to make virtually carrotless carrot cake, and Tropicana is free to make berryless and cherryless juice,” said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. “But consumers shouldn’t have to turn the package over and scrutinize the fine print to know that the color in what are mostly junk foods comes from cheap added colorings.”
FWIW, I don’t have a problem per se with the pickle and salad dressing examples… IMHO, it’s one thing to improve the appearance of condiments; but quite another to imply that a product contains “real food” ingredients that it does not, in fact, have.
Seeing a bright red color and pictures of fruit on a label strongly imply that the Tropicana product is 100% fruit juice, rather than 10%. Seeing orange “carrot” bits in the Betty Crocker “Carrot Cake” imply that real carrots are used in the recipe. And caramel colors used in bread imply that they’re made from whole wheat/whole grain flours.
That’s seriously deceptive. It’s not just that the products look better or fresher… it’s that they’re disguised to look more nutritious and higher quality than they are.
As such, I agree with CSPI’s petition to the FDA. Hopefully, the agency will take it seriously.
January 9, 2012
I totally agree, as usual. If they produce a product full of artificial ingredients, they should disclose it. I don’t know if it could cause any health issues, but we have the right to know it’s in there.
I am a label reader most all the time. It always slays me to see a fruit juice drink and read the fine print to see it has none or only 10% fruit juice in it.
That is seriously deceptive.