Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I have so many memories of Halloween nights, walking the neighborhood with my parents and sister then with my friends as I got older. Dressing as Mother Goose, an angel, a baby, and so many more. Then, of course the thrill of going through my candy after hours of hard work. My sister and I actually used to sit on the floor, dump out our treasure, and sort it by category 😂 (strange little kids I know). It was always one of my favorite days of the year.
Now that I have a child of my own, inevitably, I’m starting to think about taking her trick or treating. But, as a toxin free family, how do we go about navigating this holiday, keeping it fun for her, and keeping toxins like red 40 out of her little body? Let me tell you a little bit about red 40…
Red 40
What is it?
Red 40 is a certified color that comes from petroleum distillates or coal tars. The FDA mandates that it has to be listed by name on food and product labels. let’s look at the facts about this ingredient:
-Red 40 and other AFCs (Artificial Food Coloring) can cause allergic reactions.
-AFCs can cause hyperactivity in children and immune system tumors in mice.
-Red 40 contains p-Cresidine, which is likely a human carcinogen.
-One study found that Red 40 lowers reproductive success in rats.
-Red 40 reduced parental and offspring weight, decreased brain weight, and lowered chances for survival in newborn rats.
-The colorant showed evidence of physical and behavioral toxicity in developing rats that consumed Red 40 as 10% of their diet.
FDA regulations say that Red 40 must be listed on labels as “FD&C Red No. 40” or “Red 40.” However, manufacturers don’t have to specify how much is in their product. In the EU, warning labels are required on most dyed foods, which has caused a major downturn in their use. Foods that aren’t red or orange could still include Red 40. It is going to be incredibly prevalent in your child’s trick or treating bag.
To learn about our plan for avoiding Red 40 (and other candy that a child really doesn’t need) without removing trick or treating or taking the fun out of Halloween, hop on over to my Wellness Community where I explain what our favorite holiday will look like in our home! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean/
Raising Clean 