Out with the dyes, in with the real flavor: Why We Are Cutting Loose from Red 40 at the Student Store
A new lineup of snacks brings healthier options—and mixed reactions—to the Student Store.
Comfort snacks and food combos are the most satisfying, nostalgic foods we know and love. They restore you in a way you never thought possible. That’s the school snack store.
As you wait in line with your money in hand — one bill folded at extreme angles and another with a crease so deep it could sever in two — you lean right to get a glance at the snack tray to realize: it’s different. The Sour Punch Straws, Airheads, Doritos, Cheetos are all gone. Replaced by Pirate Booty, Fruit Snacks, Sunchips, and SkinnyPop.
STUGO has been gradually integrating new options at the student store and will continue doing so for the next few weeks. The main objective? To eliminate the unmistakable artificial food coloring: Red 40. This chemical is severely underestimated when considering its health risks. Turns out the vibrant hues on your freshly opened chip bag are completely synthetic — in other words, they are composed of man-made chemicals.
Red 40 contains para-Cresidine, which has been named a potential carcinogen, or a cancer-causing chemical. But the dangers of Red 40 run deeper. The visual display of a food item can significantly affect its perceived flavor. Those enticing bright colors draw people in and encourage them to snack on the highly processed foods that contain them. Research also shows that Red 40 can heighten anxiety and significantly disrupt a student’s concentration.
Some students have found the shift frustrating; Nolan Murphy, a middle schooler who frequently visits the student store, directly asks, “Where are the Takis?” But Nolan is not the only one who is concerned about their disappearance: Cooper Molitor, a sophomore, rates the store a 0/10, expressing that he is “disappointed that they don’t have Takis anymore.” However, Ophelia McFarland, another sophomore, recognizes the health benefits sharing, “Red 40 is terrible for you, and it’s really good to see that they’re getting rid of those artificial dyes,” adding, “the new snacks look better anyway.” The school staff also support this optimistic perspective; Ms. J, sophomore English teacher, notes that there is “a great combination of salty and sweet,” while Ms. Otter, Integrated III Math teacher, explains, “we wanted to give you guys some healthier options.”
Though met with backlash, the new snacks eliminate the plausibly dangerous Red 40 and encourage more nutritious choices. The main factor that influenced the decision was, as the high school principal, Mr. Brown, says, “a new law within Arizona,” restricting the sale of snacks containing certain artificial food dyes at schools. Especially at a rigorous school like Rancho Solano, the snacks sold play an important role in the students’ physical and mental health. The snack bar, for many, represents the few minutes of relief from a stress-filled day, so the change can be jarring. But embracing healthier options will pave the way for new memories.
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