A Mom Uses Social Media to Change Food Industry

Did you see the New York Times article last week (December 30, 2013) about a mother’s efforts to get manufacturers to remove artificial dyes from their products? “Social Media as a Megaphone to Pressure the Food Industry”  See here.

After testifying before the Food and Drug Administration without any response, Renee Shutters worked with an online petition from the Center for Science in the Public Interest and started to see change. Reportedly, Mars has indicated it may replace at least one of the dyes in their products with a natural alternative. While this progress may seem like a baby step, it’s an important one. The USA lags far behind European countries in recognizing the dangers of certain additives, due to the influence of the powerful food industry.

Where did Renee get her inspiration?

We learned from Jane Hersey, founder of the Feingold Association, that this determined mother found success with the Feingold diet for her son Trenton several years ago. In fact, the transformation she saw in her son after they switched to the Feingold Diet, which avoids artificial additives, was featured in the association’s newsletter. Hersey explained:

Trenton was a little boy who seemed angry all the time for no apparent reason. He suffered daily meltdowns; even the smallest disappointment set him off, and neither his parents nor any of his preschool teachers had an answer. The coaches in hockey camp were also unable to reach or teach him. Once she discovered the Feingold Diet and used it for their family, Renee Shutters and her husband were rewarded with the wonderful little boy they always knew was there.

After seeing how artificial dyes affected her son and his behavior, Renee was on a mission to make a change. We congratulate her on her success and hope that she will continue her efforts, for the benefit of all of us.

For sobering details on dyes in common products and their negative health effects, see this web page from the Feingold Association (here).