Ditching the Dyes: How to Snack Smart
BY ARCHANA HARIHARAN ’26
When supermarket shopping, it’s hard to ignore the bright, eye-catching colors of many American food products. Consumers toss packs of Skittles, Jolly Ranchers, and Froot Loops into their shopping carts without a second thought, rarely considering the dangers behind the pigments dying their foods.
Many well-known American snacks include harmful chemicals that are banned abroad. While other countries have banned these additives, the U.S. remains reluctant, prioritizing visual appeal and sales over consumer health. Red 40, a widely used petroleum-based dye responsible for the vivid color of many American snacks, can produce toxic compounds when exposed to heat. In fact, several studies have classified Red 40 as a potential carcinogen, leading to its ban or restriction in many regions, including the European Union. Even the beloved children’s cereal Froot Loops contains significant amounts of Red 40, prompting concerns about the extent of consumer exposure to carcinogens in synthetic snack foods.
Red 40 is not the only dye American consumers should keep an eye out for when shopping. Yellow 5 is another harmful dye banned in Norway, Austria, and Finland for its link to hyperactivity. In the European Union, food products containing Yellow 5 are legally required to carry a warning label, and Yellow 5 is otherwise banned for children’s food usage and consumption. In America, on the other hand, Yellow 5 is prevalent in many staple snacks, including Doritos, M&M’s, Skittles, Lucky Charms, Little Debbie’s, and Cap’n Crunch.
Jericho students have expressed discomfort in the knowledge that many of their snack foods contain harmful chemicals that are banned elsewhere. Shreesha M. ’26 said, “It genuinely makes me feel concerned for my health. It makes me wonder why we are being fed ingredients that other places consider unsafe.”
The United States does not currently have a nationwide ban or restriction of the hazardous Red 40 and Yellow 5 food additives. However, independent states, such as California and West Virginia, are making their own legislation to ban Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. These state bans would not go into effect until 2027, the earliest. The FDA is also working with food manufacturers to voluntarily eliminate six synthetic dyes, including Red 40 and Yellow 5, from the American food supply by the end of 2026.
A lingering question is how American consumers will adapt to the removal of these synthetic dyes from favorite foods. It is undeniable that there is high consumer demand for these well-known and beloved colorful snacks, so what will happen when the snacks no longer look, taste, or cost the same?
Teenagers comprise a major demographic that will surely be impacted by any snacking changes. Luckily, at Jericho High School, students are already a step ahead, as students have access to healthy snack options in vending machines and the cafeteria.
In the face of both harmful additives being unrestricted and the premise of future restrictions, Science Research coach and AP Biology teacher Ms. Loriann Ciasulli reiterated the importance of providing students with healthy options for snacking. She explained that students tend to mimic what they learn in school; therefore, schools should offer students healthy snacks. Ms. Ciasulli said, “It’s important to have vending machines that have choices, but maybe they’re all healthy choices…here we’re teaching them to make a healthy choice.” If students are exposed to healthy options in school and have the option to make healthy choices, then they will continue that practice beyond the high school walls.
Everything comes down to choices. If given the choice between a bag of Skittles and their organic alternative called Giggles, most would choose Skittles, due to the visual appeal and familiarity. If restrictions and bans are not going to be a reality anytime soon, it is imperative to expose students to healthy alternatives so that they are familiar with their options and empowered to make healthy decisions.
While it is easy to solely blame snack corporations for continuing to produce and advertise harmful foods, consumers must also take responsibility in their consumption. Until bans and restrictions are in full-effect, consumers must see beyond the fun lettering and vibrant colors on a package and instead read between the ingredients, exercising snacking autonomy with knowledge gained.