Red dye 40 is an FDA approved synthetic dye used in numerous foods and beverages such as sodas, cereals, desserts, candies, and snack foods. While deemed safe for consumption by health agencies, research has shown that it may cause ADHD-like symptoms in some people (source).
Many people wish to avoid food and beverages with red 40 because of its potential adverse health effects. If you are here, you are likely one of those people.
Here you will learn how Mott’s Fruit Snacks are colored and specifically if they contain red 40. Let’s get into what you need to know about the dyes in these fruit snacks, if any.
Do Mott’s Fruit Snacks Contain Red 40?
Mott’s Fruit Snacks do not have red 40 or other synthetic dyes in them. Rather, they are all colored with vegetable and fruit juices.
The tropical flavor is the only product that is also colored with annatto extract. Annatto extract comes from achiote tree seeds and can produce colors generally ranging from orange to red. In addition to being used as a coloring agent, it is also commonly used as a condiment for flavoring.
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Annatto is a natural sourced food dye but some people have reported health problems after eating it. Specifically, people have reported severe allergic reactions and irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms (source).
Given that annatto extract is widely used as a natural sourced dye, it is likely that any health problems from it are only impacting a small number of people. However, additional studies need to be completed for clearer details on the health affects of consuming annatto extract.
| Mott’s Fruit Snacks Product | Red 40 (Yes or No)? | Coloring Used | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assorted Fruit | No | Vegetable & Fruit Juice | Corn Syrup, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Pear Juice Concentrate, Apple Juice Concentrate, Strawberry Puree, Carrot Juice Concentrate. Contains 2% Or Less Of: Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Dextrose, Sodium Citrate, Malic Acid, Potassium Citrate, Sunflower Oil, Vegetable And Fruit Juice Added For Color, Natural Flavor, Carnauba Wax. |
| Berry | No | Vegetable & Fruit Juice | Corn Syrup, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Pear Juice Concentrate, Apple Juice Concentrate, Strawberry Puree, Carrot Juice Concentrate. Contains 2% Or Less Of: Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Dextrose, Sodium Citrate, Malic Acid, Potassium Citrate, Sunflower Oil, Vegetable And Fruit Juice Added For Color, Natural Flavor, Carnauba Wax. |
| Tropical | No | Vegetable Juice, Fruit Juice, & Annatto Extract | Corn Syrup, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Pear Juice Concentrate, Apple Juice Concentrate, Strawberry Puree, Carrot Juice Concentrate. Contains 2% Or Less Of: Citric Acid, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Fruit Pectin, Sodium Citrate, Malic Acid, Dextrose, Sunflower Oil, Color (Vegetable Juice, Fruit Juice, And Annatto Extract), Natural Flavor, Carnauba Wax. |
| Assorted Fruit Plus Fiber | No | Vegetable & Fruit Juice | Sugar, Corn Syrup, Soluble Corn Fiber, Modified Corn Starch, Pear Juice Concentrate, Apple Juice Concentrate. Contains 2% Or Less Of: Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Dextrose, Sodium Citrate, Malic Acid, Vegetable And Fruit Juice Added For Color, Potassium Citrate, Sunflower Oil*, Natural Flavor, Carnauba Wax. |
| Fruity Rolls | No | Vegetable & Fruit Juice | Pears From Concentrate, Corn Syrup, Dried Corn Syrup, Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil. Contains 2% Or Less Of: Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Acetylated Monoglycerides, Fruit Pectin, Malic Acid, Dextrose, Vegetable And Fruit Juice Added For Color, Natural Flavor. |
Sources:
motts.com
Anderson, A. (n.d.). What is Red No. 40? WebMD. Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-red-40
Greger, Michael. “Is Annatto Food Coloring Safe?” NutritionFacts.org, 8 Nov. 2012, https://nutritionfacts.org/questions/is-annatto-safe-for-food-coloring/.