Category: Artificial additives

Following a public petition and growing consumer demand, Kraft removed artificial dyes, including Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, from its original mac and cheese product in 2016. This change caused many to wonder about the ingredients in their favorite boxed meals and raised the question: does mac and cheese contain red 40? The answer is nuanced, depending entirely on the brand and flavor.

While many assume the intense orange hue of all Cheetos comes from Red 40, the reality is more nuanced: classic Cheetos Puffs do not contain Red 40, though certain other varieties do. The signature color of the traditional cheesy puff is derived from another common artificial dye, leading to a critical distinction for consumers paying close attention to their snacks.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), some Jet-Puffed marshmallows do contain synthetic food dyes. The primary additive is Blue 1, used not for color but to enhance the brightness of the white marshmallows. This article explores the specific ingredients in popular Jet-Puffed products and discusses why these additives are used.

Approximately 70% of the food colors used in the US are artificial, with Red Dye 40 being the most common. Learning how to tell if food has red dye 40 is a vital step toward making more informed dietary choices for your overall nutrition and health.