Parent Confronts Son's Allergy to "Unsconscionable" Red Dyes

Did everyone see the comment left by a parent earlier today in response to yesterday's post about Kellogg's new response to its use of artificial colors in seemingly-healthy Nutri-Grain cereal bars? I am sure the parent's experience is not that uncommon.

Remember, the more of us who take the time to tell the junk food and pharmaceutical companies how we feel about their questionable products, the sooner these products will be reformulated.

"Artificial colors in food and drug products are horrifying for parents of children with allergies. My son has an allergy to Red-40, and that took quite a while for us to figure out. GoGurt which was marketed to children, children's Motrin, and other children's drugs, also contained Red-40 when my son was younger, before we knew of his allergy. I recall telling one drug company representative over the phone that it was 'unconscionable' to include these chemicals in products knowing they could affect children. Ten years later they are finally seeing the light. It is not enough to provide 'allergy-free' medicines because as every parent knows, when a child is sick and you are rushing you may not be in the proper frame of mind to pay attention to what you purchase or give to your child, and you may not even realize that a chemical is affecting your child. In a conversation with Yoplait about GoGurt, I noted that the yogurts they marketed to adults did not contain artificial color, but GoGurt which was marketed to children did! These days, we avoid shopping in stores that sell products containing Red-40 (think major food chains), and my children almost routinely refuse medication for minor illnesses. I would say that is marketing strategy in the reverse! "

Well done, mom or dad!