ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Artificial food dyes show up in a surprising number of everyday groceries—from brightly colored cereals to candy and other multi-ingredient snacks.

Dr. Francisco Diaz-Gonzalez, director of the University of Georgia Center for Food Safety, shared why these dyes are used, what research suggests about potential health effects, and practical ways families can reduce exposure.

Why food dyes are used

The main reason manufacturers use synthetic dyes is simple: appearance.

“The main reason they’re used is to make the food more attractive for the consumer.”

Diaz-Gonzalez said synthetic dyes have also remained common because they’re affordable and effective.

“They provide the color that the consumer is looking for and they also… are relatively low cost.”

What the research says about health effects

Diaz-Gonzalez noted he is not a toxicologist, but said the scientific literature has continued to examine potential health impacts as these dyes have remained part of the U.S. food supply.

Cancer concerns: animal studies vs. human evidence

Some dyes have shown potential links to cancer or tumors in animal studies, he said, but he emphasized that’s different from proving a direct link in humans.

“In animal studies, several of the dyes have shown the possibility of causing cancer and tumors…[but] there has not been a direct link in any type of human cancer on those dyes.”

Behavior and hyperactivity in children

On children’s health, Diaz-Gonzalez said hyperactivity is the effect most often discussed in the research, while stressing that ADHD has not been directly linked.

“The consensus for the most part is several of them have caused hyperactivity…[but] there has not been any direct links to ADHD.”

Sensitivities and allergic-type reactions

Some studies have also suggested possible sensitivities or allergy-like reactions, though evidence is limited.

Where artificial dyes show up (and where people might be surprised)

Diaz-Gonzalez said dyes appear widely across packaged foods, particularly products with many ingredients.

“They are all over the food supply…in many multi-ingredient foods,” he said.

Consumers tend to expect dyes in brightly colored candies or cereals, but they can show up in other processed categories as well. By contrast, minimally processed and fresh foods are far less likely to contain synthetic dyes.

Are natural colors a simple swap?

As some companies pledge to reduce or eliminate synthetic dyes, Diaz-Gonzalez said replacing them can be challenging—especially when it comes to stability.

“One of the reasons why synthetic colors have been very successful is because it takes a very long time for the color to fade away.”

Natural colors can be more prone to fading depending on the ingredient used, which can complicate reformulation.

What families can do this week to cut back

For families looking for immediate, realistic steps, Diaz-Gonzalez said the best place to start is the ingredient list.

“Labels. That’s the first step,” he said.

In the U.S., synthetic dyes are typically listed with a color and number (for example, Red 40, Yellow 5 or Blue 1). He also suggested choosing less processed foods when possible and being cautious with products marketed with very bright colors.

Another option: consider items labeled organic. Diaz-Gonzalez said items with the “organic foods” label then to have mostly natural dyes.

Bottom line

Artificial food dyes are widely used to make foods look more appealing and are common in multi-ingredient packaged products. While research has raised questions—especially based on animal studies—evidence in humans is less clear, and findings can vary.

For people who want to reduce exposure, Diaz-Gonzalez’s advice is straightforward: start by checking what’s on the label.

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