57th Letter to Health Canada
I am writing regarding Health Canada’s recent statement on synthetic food dyes and their potential neurobehavioural effects on children. While I acknowledge Health Canada’s position that current evidence is "insufficient" to confirm causation, I urge you to reconsider this stance in light of three critical realities that make avoidance impossible and necessitate immediate action under the precautionary principle : 1. Avoidance Is Impossible Due to Non-Food Exposure Health Canada advises consumers to "check the list of ingredients" to avoid food dyes. This is unrealistic when synthetic dyes are ubiquitous in essential non-food products : Children’s Medicines : Medicine administered in hospital: Pain relievers antibiotics, cough syrups, and allergy medications often contain synthetic dyes and no alternative exists in a hospital setting. Parents cannot choose "dye-free" alternatives when treating a sick child. Dental Products : Toothpastes, mouthwashes,...
