Green Options » food coloring

Gettin’ Crafty in the Kitchen: Making Play Dough

Becky Striepe — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:00:50 +0000

Kids love play dough. There is no getting around it. If we’re being honest here, I’ll confess that I love the stuff, too! The store bought sort is pretty pricey, though. It comes in those plastic containers and contains preservatives to prolong its shelf life. On top of all that, I’m betting that the chemical dyes that turn it those lovely colors are none too natural. There are some more natural alternatives out there, but nothing beats making your own from scratch!

Luckily, making play dough is fun, easy, and you can even get your kiddos involved! My mom teaches preschool, and I still remember helping her make big batches of play dough during the last weekend of every summer vacation. We’d hang out in the kitchen, mixing and measuring ingredients. She’d even let me stir it in the pot while she supervised. I’ll admit that we did use that spooky food coloring that comes in the plastic squeezy containers, but I did a little digging and found some alternative coloring options that I think you’ll really dig. Enough reminiscing….let’s make some play dough!

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Let Them Eat Organic Blue Jeans

Tina Casey — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:51:20 +0000

Blue dye #1 is a food coloring that used to be made from coal tar, but apparently we don’t have to worry about coal in our candy any more. According to the FDA, blue dye #1 is now usually made from “raw materials obtained from petroleum.” What an improvement - you get a dose of petroleum derivative with your sugar fix.

If your kids are into eating blue stuff, might as well let them munch on a pair of organic blue jeans. At least the cotton is all natural. As for the blue dye - well, let’s go over the fold to see what’s up with that.

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“Grub” Is Literal: Bugs in Your Food

Cate Nelson — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:00:06 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration never ceases to amaze me. “Bugs in your food? Sure! But don’t worry, we’ll have manufacturers label it now.”

After a decade of pushing by the consumer group Center for Science in the Public Interest, the FDA will finally require that manufacturers label that there are beetles in your favorite foods and cosmetics.

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Will the EU Ban Food Colorings to Reduce ADHD and how will the FDA React?

Jennifer Lance — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:59:47 +0000

Last September, we reported that food additives and colorings were linked to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. In fact, all children are affected, not just those who develop ADHD. Despite calls from activists to ban artificial food dyes, many of which are derived from petroleum and coal tars, the FDA insists they are safe. Now, the UK is taking these concerns seriously and calling for voluntary ban by next year.

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