The FDA ban of red 3 has nothing to do with actual health risks & everything to do with public outrage & lobbyist money.
Adverse effects? IN RATS: after eating 4% of their weight daily for months.
That’s if a 150-lb person ate 102 GRAMS of red 3 EVERY DAY, for months.
1/
Adverse effects? IN RATS: after eating 4% of their weight daily for months.
That’s if a 150-lb person ate 102 GRAMS of red 3 EVERY DAY, for months.
1/
Plus: those rats have genetics predisposing them to thyroid tumors.
The average person MIGHT eat 0.2 mg per day, 7,500 TIMES LESS than rats ingested.
There is ZERO evidence that tiny levels of red 3 in foods pose risks to humans.
The claims of harm are irrelevant.
2/
The average person MIGHT eat 0.2 mg per day, 7,500 TIMES LESS than rats ingested.
There is ZERO evidence that tiny levels of red 3 in foods pose risks to humans.
The claims of harm are irrelevant.
2/
Red 3 is NOT banned in Europe, Japan, or Australia.
They have a lower acceptable daily intake, but that has also been informed by public outcry.
Even at the 0.1 mg/kg/day threshold, a 150 lb person could safely eat 6.8 mg per day—well above what someone ACTUALLY ingests.
3/
They have a lower acceptable daily intake, but that has also been informed by public outcry.
Even at the 0.1 mg/kg/day threshold, a 150 lb person could safely eat 6.8 mg per day—well above what someone ACTUALLY ingests.
3/
Anti-science wellness influencers claiming this is a “win” for nutrition and health don’t understand that removing red 3 will have nothing but potential negative impact on health.
Why? Because alternative colorings will increase food costs.
4/
Why? Because alternative colorings will increase food costs.
4/
The switch will likely be to less stable and more expensive naturally-derived colorings.
This will reduce shelf life & raise food prices.
The estimated price increase will be up to 50% for some foods: that will be passed onto us, the consumers.
5/
This will reduce shelf life & raise food prices.
The estimated price increase will be up to 50% for some foods: that will be passed onto us, the consumers.
5/
Removing an ingredient isn’t flipping a switch.
Smaller food companies may be forced to discontinue products because they lack resources to re-validate their research, development, & safety testing.
6/
Smaller food companies may be forced to discontinue products because they lack resources to re-validate their research, development, & safety testing.
6/
The problem?
Red 3 is not impacting health.
Chemophobia distracts from REAL food-related issues:
1) food deserts
2) diets low in fiber
3) lack of healthcare
4) overall dietary composition
5) reducing cost of produce
6) implementing modern farming
7) exercise habits
7/
Red 3 is not impacting health.
Chemophobia distracts from REAL food-related issues:
1) food deserts
2) diets low in fiber
3) lack of healthcare
4) overall dietary composition
5) reducing cost of produce
6) implementing modern farming
7) exercise habits
7/
If someone claims this will make food healthy—they are misguided or are actively spreading misinformation.
Activist groups: CSPI & EWG demonize single “chemicals” because it’s easy to villainize them for profit,
instead of addressing how they’ve harmed public health.
8/
Activist groups: CSPI & EWG demonize single “chemicals” because it’s easy to villainize them for profit,
instead of addressing how they’ve harmed public health.
8/
This will give permission to anti-science influencers who see their outrage legitimized.
It erodes integrity & autonomy of legitimate scientific evidence.
It distracts from things we SHOULD be focusing on.
It lets fear-mongering dictate policy.
None of this benefits us.
9/
It erodes integrity & autonomy of legitimate scientific evidence.
It distracts from things we SHOULD be focusing on.
It lets fear-mongering dictate policy.
None of this benefits us.
9/
In this era of influencers, podcast bros, & NGOs pushing personal opinions over objective reality, we need scientific institutions to stand up for evidence, not kowtow to public pressure.
Science—not sensationalism— should be leading the way.
10/
Science—not sensationalism— should be leading the way.
10/
More on food dyes and global safety assessments can be found here ⬇️
🧵immunologic.org/references/foo…
🧵immunologic.org/references/foo…
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