Synthetic food dyes (colorants) are common all over the world. But the question that needs to be asked is if all colorants are ok?

Synthetic food dyes are produced in different ways, (and I am sure the economy has a lot to do with which colorants are used! Cheaper production?)

Every country have their own rules for which colorants are legal to use or not. The differecne is what the raw materials are made of: chemicals or natural products.

In USA it is the FDA, Food and drug administration that sets the standard. The synthetic food dyes used in US are identifeid as having potential cancer-causing chemicals (The potential carcinogenity is largely based on small-scale animal testing in laboratories) and known to trigger allergic reactions, and increas hyperactivity! (In 2009, Britain asked food companies to phase out the use of most food dyes in children's food over concerns some studies had raised about their link to hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder and related health issues.)

They have NO nutritional value at all, and are used only for aesthetic reasons. To give foods and products color.

In the UK these colorants have now been replaced by natural colorants from e.g. strawberries, pumpkins, carrots, etc...

In USA they use for e.g. a red colorant called RED 40, this is used in amongst other things fanta strawberry. Fanta orange contains YELLOW 6.

These colorants are not ok! I am shocked that they are allowed here.

And this we give to 'our' children on a daily basis!

Scary thought...

Here is the list (to avoid):

Citrus Red 2
Red 3
Red 40
Yellow 5
Yellow 6
Blue 1
Blue 2
Green 3

Today my little sweetheart turns 7!  Strawberries in bed, and pressies!

Later today is her party with 8 little friends... I am not comfortable with the whole candy, cake and soda thing - even if she only has a birthday once a year! 

So keep tuned and later you can see how I organize a healthy birthday party with happy kids! :)

Tomorrow is Swedish mid-summer, and tradition has it that everyone eats strawberries!

Of course Swedish strawberries, that cost a fortune today and half price on Saturday!

But what choice do I have! We have to have strawberries and cream! So just have to wait in line... Going to be yum!