Watch What Your Kids Collect This Halloween

Studies show that food dyes may cause harmful reactions in children with ADD and other problem behaviors.

 

You won’t need a decoder ring or a biochemist to help you read the ingredients lists for J.R. Watkins products.
Back in 2008, the company pledged its commitment to the J.R. Watkins Freedom Code. “We constantly evaluate our formulas and products to make sure they are at the very highest standard, and are as natural as they can be, according to Marc Jacobs, president and chief executive officer. “We’re sure you can find the petrochemicals, bleaches, synthetic dyes and colors elsewhere if you really want them. With our products, though, you’re free to enjoy things the natural way.”

This is particularly important to know at Halloween when young children are ringing doorbells and chiming, “Trick or Treat?”  You can be certain that attractive-to-look-at treats like candy corn and multi-colored M&Ms contain food coloring dyes that make them look very tasty to youngsters. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been looking into the effect that food colorings may have on certain susceptible children such as those with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and other problem disorders. The data suggests such conditions may be exacerbated by artificial food colors.

“There are thousands and thousands of foods that use artificial coloring,” according to Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science and the Public Interest. “That makes it very difficult to avoid them.” It all comes down to profit, believes Jacobson. “Dyes are cheaper than natural coloring, and that’s why they are used,” he said.                                              

Makers of “colorful” candies disagree, stating that the results of these preliminary studies are not conclusive. However, so many individual cases of heightened childhood disorders have been reported to the FDA that officials state further tests are underway. The agency expects that new findings will be issued by the beginning of next year.

Until that time, high volumes of those colorful Halloween treats might be curtailed. No one doubts that excessive consumption contributes to child obesity in this country. At the same time, you can be sure that all 350+ Watkins products in all four product lines contain no artificial color dyes. You can scan the entire Watkins product line by going to our website: www.AllNaturalCountryStore.com.