Dyes and Chemicals Cause New England Recall for These Drinks

When my son was two years old, he was extremely hyperactive.  One day, we noticed he was overactive after he ate or drank anything with artificial dyes in the ingredients.

The wake-up call as parents to red dye #40 and yellow dye #5 was mind-blowing.

Many parents use dye colors on cupcakes or homemade treats, but the reality is that these dyes and other chemicals are harmful to the body.

According to the FDA, there are many recalls each year to keep food safe for consumers.

The latest recall is from a company in Connecticut, which also services restaurants and other eating establishments in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and places outside of the Northeast.

While it's a voluntary recall, four products from the Charles Boggini Company are suspect for cancer-causing ingredients: the Pink Lemonade, Cola Flavoring Base, Yellow Lemonade, and Yellow Lemonade X drinks. They're sold in one and five-gallon quantities to food enterprises.

According to usatoday.com, the pink lemonade flavoring contains FD&C Red #40, which is known to cause colorectal cancer.  The lemonade flavors contain FD&C Yellow #5, which can cause allergic reactions.

The cola flavoring base contains sulfites, which can cause respiratory issues.

As with many recalls, these outcomes are after excessive use of these chemicals and carcinogens. However, why would you want to put your family at risk?

The failure to disclose these ingredients in products can put a company at risk.  Voluntary recalls are not always known to consumers, so remember the phrase, "Let the buyer beware", and read or ask about possible toxins when you are unsure.