Orange you glad to know
by Woodland Holistic
Did you know the FDA allows orange growers to dye oranges that aren’t “perfectly orange” in color?
Here’s your answer from the FDA:
“Historically it has been the policy of the Food and Drug Administration to allow the artificial coloring of the skins of mature oranges. It is a common practice to color the skins of oranges in certain orange growing areas of the country because of climatic or cultural conditions which cause the oranges to mature while still green in color.”
So why would orange growers do this?
🍊 Before nights turn cool during the orange harvesting season of January through April, orange skins might not be quite “orange enough” to be visually appealing in the produce aisle. Shoppers are more likely to purchase brightly colored fruits and veggies because the color is typically equated with dense nutrients and juice concentration. They may even be green, so some growers will spray their citrus with Citrus Red #2, to make them appear more orange.
🍊 Citrus Red #2, Citrus Red No. 2, C.I. Solvent Red 80, or C.I. 12156 is an artificial dye. As a food dye, it has been permitted by the US Food and Drug Administration since 1956 to color the skin of oranges.
🍊 Studies show Citrus Red #2 is toxic to rodents at modest levels, caused tumors of the bladder, and possibly other organs.
🍊 However, when purchasing your oranges, you likely won’t know whether or not they’ve been dyed, because there are no current regulations that force retailers to label them as dyed.
🍊 Oranges aren’t the only items in the produce section that are artificially colored. There are also other fruits and veggies that have been known to be treated with artificial dyes.
🟠So how can you avoid dyed produce?🟠
✔️ Shop organic to avoid pesticides and any other artificial additives.
✔️ Look specifically for citrus grown in California and Arizona, two states that ban the use of Citrus Red #2.
✔️ Support Woodlands Holistic Home’s local community of farmers you can trust.
