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Study on Artificial Food Colors in Beverages Is Inaccurate

Dear Editor: The Juice Products Association (JPA) read with concern the study, “Amounts of Artificial Colors in Commonly Consumed Beverages and Potential Behavior Implications for Consumption in Children,” conducted by Stevens et al and published in the February 2014 edition of Clinical Pediatrics. According to the abstract, the study “. . . is the first to quantify the amounts of AFCs [artificial food colors] in foods (specifically beverages) commonly consumed by children in the United States.” The Sunny D beverages sampled for the study contain some natural fruit juice, which also contributed to the color profile. The AFC values reported for these products and other beverages containing fruit juice in the study are elevated, by twice the actual level in some beverages, as the researchers did not distinguish the color contributed by natural fruit juice from the AFC during the analysis. Thus, the AFC values reported represent natural color and the color additive as opposed to just the AFC, which is the focus of this study. The researchers failed to acknowledge in the study that some of the beverages contained fruit juice. In addition, the study references “Sunny D TangerineStrawberry”; however, such a product is not manufactured or distributed by Sunny Delight Beverages Co. This highlights another error, which raises concern about the lack of accuracy. The JPA has corresponded with Laura Stevens, who has indicated that another method is being used to analyze the samples. We have previously requested that Ms. Stevens submit a letter to Clinical Pediatrics highlighting the errors with the study and requesting that the study be removed from the journal. Since the current study is flawed, we request that an addendum be added to the study noting the errors contained therein so this information is available when the study is accessed by the media and the public in the future.