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True colors: Prohibit artificial food coloring

By Dylan Doucet, age 10 | December 27, 2024

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DYEING TO BE NATURAL Dylan Doucet, a fifth grader at Condit Elementary School, wants to urge lawmakers to take strong action against artificial colors in food.

My name is Dylan Doucet and I am a fifth grader at Condit Elementary. I have a goal to eliminate artificial food colors found in my favorite snacks because they are harmful to our bodies. Artificial colors in food are the number one disruptor of our gut microbiome, which is the body’s foundation to good health. Artificial colors are even worse for your gut microbiome than sugar, which is the second biggest disruptor.

As a person with ADHD, artificial colors are further detrimental to my health as they have been proven to cause hyperactivity. I personally have felt these effects since some of my favorite snacks (Doritos, Gatorade, Skittles, Cheetos, M&Ms) contain artificial colors. I no longer eat these snacks and urge you to stop also. This includes Red-40, Yellow-5, Yellow-6, Blue-1, and Blue-2. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods offer many alternatives for these snacks that are just as tasty and do not contain any artificial colors.

Many other countries, such as the UK, have banned these artificial colors given the harmful effects. In these countries, the food companies are forced to produce the same products, just without the artificial colors. The taste is the same; however, the colors are not as bright as they are in the US. Personally, I do not think our food needs to have bright colors. I’d rather they not contain harmful chemicals. Currently, California is considering a bill to ban six artificial colors from being served in schools. I think the rest of the US needs to start making changes also.

Given the harmful effects of artificial colors in food, I created an online petition with Change.org to gather signatures to show the FDA and Congress that we need change. Please consider signing the petition and helping me get these chemicals eliminated. It takes about 30 seconds to sign. I am also planning to meet with House Representative Lizzie Fletcher to discuss ways to get a bill passed. Your support will help kids have easier access to safer snacks!

Sign my petition at chng.it/GdhnMNqD8R.

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