Bugs, beets, and Barbie pink: How scientists are mixing up natural solutions to comply with RFK Jr.’s crackdown on artificial colors

St. LOUIS (AP) – Because pressure growsArtificial colorsOutside of US food supply, shift can be started at a Laboratory in ABBY Tampow.

In the afternoon in April, the scientist hung over the small dishes of the red paint, each with a slightly different ruble. His problem. To compare the synthetic shadow used for years, which is used for years of commercial bottled raspberries, but using only natural ingredients.

“This red needs a little more orange,” Tamna said, mixed with a small beta-caroti with cleansing black carrot juice, orange red.

Tampow makes the world’s largest Dyemakers of the Corporation of the “Sensitive Technology” corporation.

“Most of our customers have decided that this is the time when they are going to make it natural color, Feeling Gebhard, sensitive GeBardt. He recently joined the recent factory of the sensitive colors in St. Louis.

US health officials last weekThe plans announcedTo persuade food companies to voluntarily eliminate the artificial dyes based on oil until 2026.

Minister of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called them “toxic compounds” that endanger children’s health and development, citing limited evidence of possible health risks.

The federal drive follows an inflamedState lawsand aJune decisionsThe artificial paint is known as red 3 – found in cakes, candies and some medications due to laboratory animal cancer risks. Social media announcers and ordinary consumers are cruel calls for artificial colors to be removed from food.

The change in natural colors can be fast

FDA allows about three dozen colors including eight remaining synthetic dyes. But the change in oil-based dyes from vegetables, fruits, flowers and even insects is easy, fast or cheap, said Monica Goyustei, a food specialist in Ohio State University.

“After the study, the study showed that if all companies need to remove synthetic colors from their wording, the supply of natural alternatives would not be enough,” Gayusti said. “We are not really ready.”

It can take six months to turn from a natural one to synthetic paint. And this may require three or four years to supply the necessary botanical products for industrial movement, sensitive officials said.

“It’s not that there are 150 million pounds of beet juice, which is sitting on the chance of leaving, the whole market can be transformed,” Paul Manning said. “Dozens of pounds pounds of these products have to grow up, removed from the ground, extracted.”

Sensitive work works with farmers and producers around the world to collect raw materials, which usually come to the plant as mass concentrates. They are processed and mixed into liquids, grains or powders, then sent to food companies to add to the final products.

Natural present is difficult to prepare and use artificial colors. They are less consistent in color, less stable and subject to acidity, warmth and light changes, said Manning. Blue is especially difficult. There are no natural color sources, and those that are, it is difficult to maintain during processing.

In addition, the natural color is about 10 times more than the synthetic version, Manning is assessed.

“How do you get the same identity, the same presentation, the same level of that product in that product, how would you like to synthetic?” He said. “There are many complications about it.”

Insects that can naturally make “Barbie Pink”

The companies have used the red 3 synthetic paint to create what sensitive officials describe “Barbie Pink”.

According to a natural source, this color may require the use of the call, the pepper size insect.

Female insects release bright red pigment, red acid, in their bodies and eggs. Mistakes live only on the cactus of prickly pear pears in Peru and elsewhere. It takes about 70,000 cochineal insects to produce 1 kilogram, 1 kg, about 2.2 pounds, paint.

“It’s interesting how the most exotic colors are found in the most exotic places,” said Norbn Norbrega, who travels to the world, and reasonable new shades.

Artificial dyesare widely used in US food. About 1 of 5 food products in the United States contains added colors, natural or synthetic, mening assessment. Many contain many colors.

FDA requires a sample of each batch of synthetic colors, which will be presented for testing and certification. Color, color additives from animal or mineral springs are released, but have been evaluated by the agency.

Health Advocates:They have long been called to refrain from artificial food dyes, citing mixed studies, noting that some children can cause neurocheaviar problems, including hyperactivity and attention.

The US Food and Drug Administration says that the established dyes are safe when they are used according to regulations, and that most of the children have adverse effects. “

But critics state that added colors are the main componentUltrasuit food,which make up more than 70% of the US diet and have been related to chronic health problems, including heart disease, diabetes andobesityA number

“I’m all painting artificial food from food supply,” said Marion Seta food policy specialist. “They are strongly cosmetic, not aiming of health or security, ultra-food markers and can be harmful to some children.”

Trix grain cautious tale

Color is a powerful driver of consumer behavior and changes can be staged, said Goyfosti. Giant food giant mills in 2016The artificial dyes were removedAfter Trix grain, after consumer requests, passing through natural springs, including turmeric, strawberries and radishes.

But the grain lost its neon colors, which leads to more muted shades, and the consumer feedback. Trix fans have said they miss the bright colors of cereal and the familiar flavor. In 2017, the company was back.

“When I already love that you are used to exhaustion, and it changes a little, then it may not be the same experience,” said Gusty. “Announcing the regulatory change is one step, but then the implementation is another thing.”

Kennedy, Minister of Health, said that US officials “understand” with food companies in artificial colors. Industry officials told the Associated Press that there was no official agreement.

However, several companies have said that they plan to speed up the transfer of natural colors into some of their products.

Pepsico CEO Ramon LaguardaAccording to him, most of his products are already free from artificial colors, and that it’s puts and Tostitos brands will be divided by the end of this year. He said that the company plans to blow artificial colors, or at least offer consumers a natural alternative in the next few years.

Representatives of total mills said they were “obliged to continue the conversation” administration. WK Kellogg officials say they are transforming cereal products used in the nation’s school lunch plans to eliminate artificial dyes and stop any new product.

Emotional officials will not confirm which companies are looking for a switch to make help, but they said they were ready to grow.

“Now, when there is a date, there is a schedule,” said Manning. “It simply came to our notice then.”

This story was originally shown Fortune.com