Wait: Oranges Are Dyed to Look 'More Orange?!?'

[yortsed snacilbuper]

Food dye can be found in a lot of surprising (and seemingly healthy) places—such as yogurt or pickles—but it turns out that even seemingly "whole" foods like fruit can be hiding the unwanted ingredient as well. Yes, some oranges are dyed to make them look "more orange."

oranges can be dyed in one of two ways. First, an artificial dye called "Citrus Red 2" can be added to oranges “not intended or used for processing.” Translation: If it’s not being made into orange juice, red dye can be sprayed on the peels to make them look more orange. The other way Red No. 2 is added—and it’s worth noting this is usually only done in commercial applications—is through ethylene gas. This speeds up the blanching process, which is normally done right after picking.

Though Citrus Red No. 2 may get the stamp of approval from the FDA, in large amounts it can be harmful to human health. In fact, the NIH’s U.S. Library of Medicine’s Toxicology Data Network says Red No. 2 is “possibly carcinogenic” to humans. Beyond that, there’s speculation of synthetic dyes affecting personality and other aspects of our health (one of our nutritionists says certain types trigger her son’s ADHD.)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/wait-oranges-are-dyed-to-look-more-orange/ar-BBU4J6E?ocid=spartanntp

[dweller]

1. yep

had to stop using orange zest at my job.. not safe unless you have certified organic fruit

✌🏼️

[applegrove]

2. My multicolored heirloom carrots are not dark purple all the way through.

What kind of carrot changes color?

[demigoddess]

3. so true, so sad.

and stupid that we do it.

[procon]

4. Whilst still on the trees, Calif oranges are a pale yellow

to a bright yellow-orange color. My sister has 4-5 varieties in her garden and even on the same tree the colors vary, but none of them are like the deep orange found in grocery stores.

[Retrograde]

7. My blood orange tree

produces fruit that varies from light orange through orange/red to red. The older variety Meyer lemon tree has fruit that goes from yellow to orange. I sometimes see deep orange-colored oranges at local stores and farmers' markets.

[Cairycat]

5. When I was a kid, riding the bus home from school,

I would get hungry. I'd save the peels from the oranges in my lunch and eat them. Maybe it's why I got cancer more than 40 years later? Who knows? BTW I still love orange peels, gotta stick to organic though

[yortsed snacilbuper]

6. My Mom used to make orange cookies,

she made the icing with orange peels, best cookies I've ever had.