I remember back in the late 1970's or early 1980's when it did not matter plain or Peanut, you opened the bag and you saw no Red? (or Blue, Purple). I am not able to recall the number of years that M&M Candy was 'Redless'. I think that at the time the Red Food Coloring used in the Red M&M's was supposed to cause Cancer. So, to prevent mass paranoia, they stopped putting red pieces of the candy were history... Then Modern Science or forgotten Red M&M paranoia, they brought back Red M&M's. So once again you can save all the Red M&M's till last, and they WILL melt in your Hands, if you leave them there long enough. Lol, can't help but wonder if there are still those doubters full of 'Red M&M Phobia' who now pick out the Red ones, out of disbelief that the new red will cause Cancer? Any one know of other food items that were discontinued or changed during the 'Red Food Coloring' scare back then? Peace 2 U-
it wasn't just a scare, and either the chemistry of red die number three was chainged, it was replaced with some other kind of red food coloring, or corporatocracy got away with another fast one by bringing it back. i think, if i recall correctly, that a suitable replacement for red#3 was found and has been used ever since. but as you say, there were a number of years between the pulling of red 3 and finding a replacement that was adiquite for such aplications as the m&m shells. =^^= .../\...
I thought it was red dye #2! Anyway, M&Ms didn't use that particular dye in its red candies, but they pulled that color for awhile until the controversy died down. Does anyone remember the tan colored M&Ms? You'd only get one or two in a bag, but they always made me wonder what that was all about!
I recall the tan M&M's. Seems like they appear in the plain only if I am able to recall correctly...Never recall seeing the tan in the 'peanut' type of M&M's. Maybe they were there, just never noticed, though noticed them in 'plain?'
You're right, they never appeared in peanut, just in plain, and only one or two in a bag! Tan M&Ms, one of life's mysteries.
In 1970, two Russian studies on Red Dye # 2 showed that extremely small amounts of Red Dye # 2 caused birth defects, stillbirths, fetal deaths, and sterility in rats. The report was translated and given to the FDA. It was ignored and forgotten."... It really saddens me to see so many little children being fed all manner of strongly coloured liquids. With so much information already available for so many years why are the parents clueless on this most preventable health assault? Where are those expensive regulatory bodies? Are not they supposed to provide this info to the masses? Instead they are busy regulating generally safe health foods so more can get sick for their Medical Mafia friends. While the public is continually duped with all manner of pretense of health care! People like me are sick and tired of doing their work for free.... The following is extracted from: Ezekiel’s Medicine - God’s Low-Cost Health Care Plan! By Steve Coffman, B.Sc. The book, which can be downloaded, from the above link is very interesting and educational and is highly referenced. However, I must warn the reader that, at times, it is very tedious to read. The fanatical quotations of the scriptures and the typical slant to use one's religion to justify one's own biass', can be distracting. In spite of this aberration it is a must read. Chris Gupta ...It’s in maraschino cherries. A coal tar dye called Red Dye #40 is artificially added to the fruit. There are over 40 of these Red Dyes; they are very suspect of causing female breast cancer; they also seem to cause other serious problems; (see below quotes.) Ladies, your husbands love you. Mothers love their daughters. Remove the cherry when you eat sundaes. Avoid anything with FD&C Red Dyes! Or at least take a LOT of C when you eat this poison! While on the Red Dye subject, Dr. Frederick Stare, M.D., (see Chapter 16) stated on Barry Farber’s show in New York City that “all food additives, including Red Dye # 2 are harmless; they should be used.” When asked if he wouldn't care to be more cautious and qualify his statement, Dr. Stare replied, “since the body is composed of chemicals anyway, it makes no difference if more chemicals are added.”33 (Does this doctor care about the drugs he uses on his patients and what the side effects are?) Would you be happy with this doctor as your primary physician? In 1970, two Russian studies on Red Dye # 2 showed that extremely small amounts of Red Dye # 2 caused birth defects, stillbirths, fetal deaths, and sterility in rats. The report was translated and given to the FDA. It was ignored and forgotten. From the Dictionary of Food Additives: FD and C Red # 40: This dye, approved in 1971; is a member of the family of Azo Dyes; it is widely used in the cosmetics industry. Allied Chemical has an exclusive patent on it. It is substituted for FD & C Red #4 in many cosmetics, food and drug products. Many American scientists feel that the safety of Red #40 is far from established because the manufacturer conducted all of the tests. The dye should not have received a permanent safety rating. The National Cancer Institute reported that p-credine, a chemical used in preparation of Red #40, is carcinogenic in animals. The FDA permanently listed Red #40 for use in foods and ingested drugs but only temporarily listed it for cosmetics and external drugs. FD means food & drug; C means for cosmetics. Studies completed in the 1980s showed that high doses of FD&C Red No. 3 caused thyroid tumors in male rats. The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association argued that there was no direct carcinogenic effect shown at the low levels in use. But FDA decided that the evidence of thyroid tumors in rats was clear, and that additional research cited by the industry did not prove that an indirect mechanism such as hormonal effect triggered by the dye caused the tumors in the rats. FDA therefore rejected the manufacturers' petition for permanent listing of Red Dye # 3. From a mother who has an ADD daughter; “Most people who observed my daughter’s behavior told me she was hyperactive, but anyone who witnessed a tantrum advised us to get psychological help. The fall after she turned three, she was taking Ventolin syrup for breathing problems and her tantrums increased to one hour durations during the day and the nightmares lasted at least that long. I began searching for dietetic answers that could cause reactions and found: Red dye (especially No. 40) in the cough syrup causes severe tantrums; MSG causes aggressive behavior; artificial flavoring (especially vanillin); causes aggressive behavior. Also, she would have severe headaches after ingesting Red Dye # 40.” “Most people don't believe me so I rarely say anything in public, but we discovered this when she was 3-1/2. Now she is almost 7, has made straight A's in school and has not had a tantrum in over a year or two. Every time she has a reaction I find out she has ingested one of the above.” (Source withheld.). “The medical community (at least in my city) is EXTREMELY skeptical of any link between diet and behavior problems and I am usually either totally made fun of or at the very least, not taken seriously.” (Source withheld.) Estrogenic and DNA damage: Red No. 3 in human breast cancer cells: Dees C, Askari M, Garrett S, Gehrs K, Henley D, Ardies CM, Environ Health Perspect 1997 Apr;105 Suppl 3:625-32: "Exposure to pesticides, dyes, and pollutants that mimic the growth promoting effects of estrogen may cause breast cancer...Red No. 3 increased binding of the ER from MCF-7 cells to the estrogen responsive element. Consumption of Red No. 3, which has estrogen-like growth stimulatory properties and may be genotoxic, could be a significant risk factor in human breast carcinogenesis." Ladies, Red No. 40 is commonly substituted for Red No. 3. DNA damage induced by red food dyes in pregnant and male mice: Tsuda S, Murakami M, Matsusaka N, Kano K, Taniguchi K, Sasaki YF. Toxicol Sci 2001 May;61(1):92-9: "We determined the genotoxicity of synthetic red tar dyes (amaranth) (Red No. 2), allura red (Red No. 40), or acid red (Red No. 106), new coccine (Red No. 18); currently used as food color additives in many countries, including Japan. The assay was positive in the colon 3 hours after the administration of amaranth and allura red and weakly positive in the lung 6 hours after the administration of amaranth...the 3 dyes induced DNA damage in the colon starting at 10 mg/kg with amaranth...6.5 mg/10 ml. with new coccine…this induced DNA damage in the colon, stomach, and bladder. Because the 3 dyes we examined induced colon DNA damage at a very low dose, more extensive assessment of azo additives is warranted." Food Dyes & Flavorings Experts estimate that over 193,000 new cases of female breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2001. In the US, about 40,600 women will die from breast cancer this year (2002). Authors note: The primary reason for adding Red Dye #40 to foods is to color the food red, as in cherries to make them exceedingly red for customer appeal. However, the author has found that Hostess Assorted Donuts contain Red Dye #40; it says so on the label. There is no reason for this; donuts aren't red!... 33. Gary Null and Steven Null, How to Get Rid of the Poisons in Your Body (New York, NY: Arco Publishing Company, 1977), p. 213. Posted at February 25, 2004 12:00 AM | TrackBack Comments My son was hyper, irritating and hard to live with until the day i cut out red dye from his diet. The one thing i wonder, when i was pregnant with him, i CRAVED crunchberry cereal. Did i cause thsi problem during my pregancy? Anyone know of any studies about this? My son is adhd and when he gets red dye, uncontrollable. Any advice? Posted by: sharonkathleen corner on April 23, 2004 02:39 AM In 1992, when my boys were very little,I noticed that when I gave my boys something with red dye, I could set my watch to the reaction time - 20 minutes. All 3 have different temperments, but red dyes sure erase those differences! I was doing a search about red dyes when I came across your webpage. Info I received in 2000, after telling the above story stated that red dyes are derivatives of coal tars. Also, an initial lab rat study, performed in the early 70's, I believe, resulted in the deaths of the study group. Red dyes were banned for a long time in Europe, Canada, and here in the US (are you old enough to remember no more red M&Ms?) Then a subsequent study turned up increased hyperactivity and (I think) asthma or some respiratory problems in the second group. You are seeing what you are seeing.
