(NewsNation) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to crack down on synthetic food dyes in school lunches is resonating with parents who say they have seen the negative effects firsthand.
Brandon and Whitney Cawood set out to examine the research on synthetic dyes in a new documentary, “To Dye For,” after seeing their own son’s disturbing reaction.
“We kind of had this Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde thing going on, where he was really struggling with aggression and just emotions and anger,” Brandon Cawood told NewsNation.
Whitney Cawood said their son’s behavior changed once they eliminated synthetic dyes.
“Within 48 hours, that child that we had on those good days, we had that child for 30 days straight,” she said. “When I started to dig in, there was a lot of research.”
The couple felt so strongly that they became first-time filmmakers to help others learn about the potentially harmful food additives.
Some people interviewed for the documentary think synthetic dyes can even increase suicidal thoughts.
“When you’re on dyes, [thoughts] get loud. They get to be like, “Hey, are you sure you want to be alive right now?” Alexander Bevans, a student at Western Nevada College, said in the film trailer.
Testimony like that is one of the reasons Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is touring the country to “Make America Healthy Again,” calling for major changes to the food we eat.
Kennedy was in Arizona on Tuesday, where officials are trying to cut ultraprocessed food ingredients out of school lunches.
But how much are Americans paying attention to the national conversation about chemical dyes and ultraprocessed foods? NewsNation spoke to several people in Miami, Florida, who had different views.
“I would really appreciate it if the U.S. government cared more about what was in our food,” said Amanda Lewan.
Another man, Nick Jackson, called food dyes “poison.”
Someone else, who didn’t want to be named, didn’t think the government should have control over people’s diets.
Last month, West Virginia became the first state to pass a sweeping ban on artificial food dyes, and lawmakers in more than 20 states are pushing to restrict access to dyes to some degree.
As for the Cawoods, they’re excited the topic has grown into a broader national conversation.
“Both Republicans and Democrats are getting behind it, and I think that’s a beautiful thing,” Whitney Cawood said.
