Get Synthetic Food Dyes Out of Little Debbie Swiss Rolls!

The Issue

Little Debbie Swiss Rolls have a combined 32 milligrams of Yellow 5, Red 40, and Blue 1 per serving, according to FDA data the Center for Science in the Public Interest obtained and analyzed. That level of artificial food dye is troubling, since clinical trials show that some children experience adverse behavioral reactions after consuming that much (or less).

A recent Change.org petition garnered more than 217,000 signatures calling on Mars to drop artificial dyes in its U.S. M&Ms. On February 5, Mars announced that it will remove dyes from all of the foods it sells (for human consumption). Let’s get Little Debbie to do the same!

Companies have been making dye-free products for European customers for years (because otherwise they’re required to put a warning label on the product). And now many U.S. brands are making the switch too. Frito-Lay has removed dyes from its Tostitos, Sun Chips, and other snack foods; Campbell has removed dyes from Goldfish crackers; Kraft has removed dyes from Macaroni & Cheese products; Nestle has dropped dyes from Butterfingers, Nesquik, and other products; and General Mills has removed dyes from numerous Yoplait yogurts (including Trix, Go-Gurt, and others), some of its fruit snacks (such as Roll-Ups), and 75% of its cereals. 

What’s even crazier? Hostess Ho Hos are no one’s idea of health food—but they’re made without synthetic food dyes! If Hostess can make snack cakes that look just like Little Debbie’s Swiss Rolls without red, blue, and yellow dyes, then the maker of Little Debbie Swiss Rolls should be able to do the same.

 

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Center for Science in the Public InterestPetition Starter
This petition had 10,365 supporters

The Issue

Little Debbie Swiss Rolls have a combined 32 milligrams of Yellow 5, Red 40, and Blue 1 per serving, according to FDA data the Center for Science in the Public Interest obtained and analyzed. That level of artificial food dye is troubling, since clinical trials show that some children experience adverse behavioral reactions after consuming that much (or less).

A recent Change.org petition garnered more than 217,000 signatures calling on Mars to drop artificial dyes in its U.S. M&Ms. On February 5, Mars announced that it will remove dyes from all of the foods it sells (for human consumption). Let’s get Little Debbie to do the same!

Companies have been making dye-free products for European customers for years (because otherwise they’re required to put a warning label on the product). And now many U.S. brands are making the switch too. Frito-Lay has removed dyes from its Tostitos, Sun Chips, and other snack foods; Campbell has removed dyes from Goldfish crackers; Kraft has removed dyes from Macaroni & Cheese products; Nestle has dropped dyes from Butterfingers, Nesquik, and other products; and General Mills has removed dyes from numerous Yoplait yogurts (including Trix, Go-Gurt, and others), some of its fruit snacks (such as Roll-Ups), and 75% of its cereals. 

What’s even crazier? Hostess Ho Hos are no one’s idea of health food—but they’re made without synthetic food dyes! If Hostess can make snack cakes that look just like Little Debbie’s Swiss Rolls without red, blue, and yellow dyes, then the maker of Little Debbie Swiss Rolls should be able to do the same.

 

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Center for Science in the Public InterestPetition Starter

The Decision Makers

Mike Gloekler
Mike Gloekler
CEO, McKee Foods
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Petition created on August 29, 2016