My name is Shelley, and I’m writing this with a heavy heart because I’ve watched too many children—including ones I love—struggle with focus, sleep, meltdowns, and mysterious rashes that doctors couldn’t always explain. After months of research, removing certain foods, and seeing dramatic improvements in my own child, I kept coming back to one common ingredient: tartrazine, also called FD&C Yellow No. 5.

It’s the bright artificial yellow you see in Mountain Dew, Froot Loops, Kraft mac & cheese, Skittles, Gatorade, gummy vitamins, children’s cold medicine, and countless other products marketed directly to our kids. It has no flavor, no nutritional value—it’s only there to make processed food look “fun” and irresistible. (1)

I’m not a scientist or a politician. I’m just a parent who’s terrified that something so unnecessary is hurting our children while companies insist it’s “perfectly safe.”

Why Do I Care So Much?

16 years ago, I was fortunate to give birth to an incredible baby boy. Since then, my world has been turned upside down, and I find myself looking at things very differently. Like every parent, I want my child to grow up healthy and happy. But I can't accept that we are putting our kids'—and everyone's—health at risk by continuing the use of artificial colors like Yellow #5.

Here’s what I’ve learned (and what keeps me up at night):

In 2007, a gold-standard study published in The Lancet gave ordinary preschool and elementary kids a drink with Yellow #5 and other common dyes. Parents, teachers, and researchers (all blinded) saw clear increases in hyperactivity and inattention—even in children who weren’t previously diagnosed with ADHD. Read the full study here.

A major 2012 review estimated that artificial colors like Yellow #5 could be contributing to 8–10% of ADHD cases. Access the meta-analysis here.

Europe took this seriously: since 2010, every food containing Yellow #5 sold in the EU and UK must carry this warning: “May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”Learn more about the EU regulation.

Many of the exact same brands we buy here (Skittles, M&M’s, Starburst) are made without Yellow #5 for Europe—they just use natural colors like spirulina or turmeric instead. More on natural alternatives here.

Some children break out in hives, have asthma attacks, or get terrible migraines from this dye. Others seem fine until you remove it—then suddenly they sleep better, focus better, and have fewer tantrums. Read more here...

Artificial dyes like Yellow #5 have been linked to hyperactivity, asthma, migraines, thyroid cancer, anxiety, clinical depression, and allergies.
Artificial food dye consumption has increased by 500% in the last 50 years, with children being the biggest consumers.

California’s 2022 scientific review (hundreds of pages long) concluded there is enough evidence that Yellow #5 can harm children’s brain development and behavior—even at the low levels currently allowed. Download the full OEHHA report

We’re asking to ban one single artificial dye that the rest of the developed world already treats with caution or has replaced entirely. Beta carotene and paprika are safe alternatives to artificial color Yellow #5 and are used in European countries where Yellow #5 is restricted or replaced.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest states the following about Yellow #5: "...may be contaminated with several cancer-causing chemicals. In addition, Yellow 5 causes sometimes-severe hypersensitivity reactions in a small number of people and might trigger hyperactivity and other behavioral effects in children. Posing some risks, while serving no nutritional or safety purpose, Yellow 5 should not be allowed in foods." Read CSPI's full statement here

The Problem in a Nutshell

Yellow #5 (also known as tartrazine) is used in many of the products marketed toward kids and is one of the most popular artificial colors—and potentially the most damaging. DON'T OUR KIDS—DON'T WE ALL—DESERVE THE SAME? Let’s stop the use of Yellow #5 and move to safe alternatives, like beta carotene and paprika.

Our children deserve the same protection that European kids already have.

If you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, or anyone who loves a child, I’m begging you to stand with us. Please sign this petition to demand that Canada finally bans Yellow #5 (tartrazine) from food, drinks, and medicine.

We shouldn’t have to read ingredient labels like detectives just to keep neon-yellow chemicals out of our kids’ bodies. Companies have already proven they can make these products without it—they just choose not to here because it’s cheaper and they’re allowed to.

Our children are not test subjects.

Please add your name today. Together we can force regulators to put children’s health ahead of corporate profits.

With hope and gratitude,

Shelley 

Additional sources: (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)