Artificial Flavors

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines artificial flavors as chemicals "that are not originally sourced from nature." Artificial flavors are a cheap way for manufacturers to mimic the taste of natural flavors.

Flavor chemists are employed by companies to create flavors from a list of 1,300-FDA improved ingredients. The FDA does not require the companies to disclose the ingredients as long as they are "generally recognized as safe." There is little documented research and few studies published on the effects of artificial flavors. If you want to avoid this additive, read all food labels carefully, and avoid packaged processed foods.

Here are a list of Artificial Food Colorings you should avoid:
Red #2
Red #3
Caramel coloring
Brown HT
Orange B
Bixin
Norbixin
Annatto
Red #40
Blue #1
Blue #2
Citrus red #1
Citrus red #2
Green #3
Yellow #5
Yellow #6