There are several snacks and sweets that contain food colours. These colours are used to enhance the appearance or appeal of the food. While food dyes can be used safely in small amounts, they can also pose a potential health risk if consumed in large quantities or over an extended period of time.
Here are some common food items that contain artificial colours, and some reasons why you may want to avoid them.
1. Gulaab Jamun
These deep-fried dough balls soaked in sugar syrup are often dyed with a bright pink food colour, which can be derived from synthetic sources or natural sources like beetroot or saffron. Synthetic food colours have been linked to various health concerns, including allergies, hyperactivity, and cancer.
2. Jalebi
To make jalebi, flour batter is shaped into a spiral, deep-fried and soaked in sugar syrup. It is sometimes dyed with a bright orange colour. And no wonder, these radiant jalebis look marvellous. As per studies, chemicals used in certain food dyes can cause anxiety and also breathing issues.
3. Laddoo
These sweet balls are often flavoured with cardamom and other spices. And we swoon over laddoos that look brilliantly orange or yellow. We’re tempted to have them the very moment we look at them. If you didn’t know, they are often dyed with bright yellow or orange colour.
4. Pani Puri
The small, crispy balls filled with a mixture of potatoes, chickpeas, and spices and served with spicy water instantly make our drools high. The water is often dyed with bright green food colour.
5. Artificial Beverages
It is a known fact that many carbonated and artificial drinks contain food colours. These artificial drinks come with their own set of cons, and the food dyes worsen the side effects.
6. White Bread
You’ll be shocked to know that the white bread you’re bringing home every day might also contain food dyes in moderate quantities. A piece of spotlessly white bread might have more than just flour.
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Here’s Why You Should Avoid Food Dyes
There are many side effects of food colours. Food colours cause hyperactivity in children and have been linked to cancer in humans and animals.
The most common side effect of food colour is hyperactivity in children. According to a study, when children were given a drink with artificial food colouring, they showed more hyperactivity than when they were offered a drink without artificial food colouring. Other studies show that the more artificial food colourings you consume, the higher your risk for cancer becomes.
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Thus, it is best to avoid or limit your consumption of artificially coloured foods. Instead, you can choose to eat foods containing natural colours whenever possible.