Western Nevada College Psychology Professor Dr. Rebecca Bevans has raised awareness about the perils of synthetic food dyes through a TEDx Talk video on YouTube, media interviews and as source for the “To Dye For” documentary. Now, she and renowned cancer researcher Dr. Lorne Hofseth have released a book, delivering a comprehensive, science-supported guide on one of the most overlooked public health topics in the U.S. food system. 

“Everything You Need to Know About Synthetic Food Dyes” synthesizes more than 170 scientific studies and serves as one of the most comprehensive public resources on the topic to date. Dr. Bevans’ combination of scientific grounding, public education, policy focus and personal experiences makes her a highly respected and influential voice in the growing movement to eliminate synthetic food dyes from food, drinks, medications and consumer products. 

The book opens with a deeply personal story as Dr. Bevans recounts when her son, Alex, became suicidal at 7 after exhibiting a variety of neurobehavioral symptoms from ingesting food dyes.  

Fortunately, Dr. Bevans and her husband, Eric, looked beyond his occasional ADHD symptoms and discovered the connection between food dyes and his behavior. While eventually solving her son’s problem with various food dyes, Dr. Bevans was determined to help other parents and their children by sharing her experiences and knowledge. 

This project’s collaboration came together after Bevans reached out to Hofseth in 2024 about a research article he wrote. The two quickly realized how aligned their interests and missions were since the co-authors have four children between them.  

“I have always wanted to write a book, but it seemed extremely overwhelming to me,” Dr. Bevans said. “Honestly, I’m much better as a team player. Dr. Hofseth is an amazing scientist and researcher (with over 100 published research articles) and comes from a very different background and expertise than I come from. I am on the psychology side, and he is on the cancer research, physiology side. We complement each other very well. And we work well together. It has been fun putting this all together with him.” 

Weekly Zoom meetings turned into a full-fledged partnership, and after nearly a year of paragraph-by-paragraph collaboration, their book was born — designed to serve everyone from concerned parents and teachers to policymakers, doctors and scientists. 

“This book is written to help people like me feel validated — and supported by science,” Dr. Bevans said. “We wanted something that’s accessible but evidence-driven, to help people advocate for themselves and their loved ones.” 

What is inside the book? The title isn’t deceptive — this really is everything you need to know about synthetic food dyes. Backed by a review of 173 scientific articles, the book dives deep into: 

• The history of artificial food colors
• The chemical structure of each major dye (including Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, Blue 1 and 2, and more)
• Short- and long-term health effects, including behavioral concerns, hyperactivity, rashes, cancer, reproductive toxicity, DNA damage and inflammation
• Global policies and how other countries regulate synthetic dyes compared to the U.S.
• Step-by-step guides on how to eliminate these chemicals from your life, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, advocate for your children at school, and even test for reactions
• Practical takeaways and key points in every chapter
• A powerful final section on policy trends and where the U.S. stands on removing dyes from the food supply

    This isn’t a dense academic textbook — it’s a user friendly, jump-in-where-you-need-it resource that empowers readers to take control of their health and their choices. 

“You don’t have to read it cover to cover,” Dr. Bevans said. “If you just want to understand Red 40 or read about how to talk to your child’s school, you can go straight to those chapters. This book is here to serve real people in real situations.” 

With public awareness growing and media headlines calling out synthetic dyes more frequently, Dr. Bevans and Dr. Hofseth hope their book can help move the conversation from confusion to clarity — and from passive concern to informed action. 

“There’s so much misinformation out there,” Dr. Bevans said. “Our food supply is filled with chemicals that offer no nutritional value — only cosmetic appeal. We believe people deserve to know the facts and make choices that support their well-being.” 

While companies and government agencies occasionally announce commitments to reduce synthetic dyes, policies haven’t shifted significantly at the federal level. Only Red 3 has been banned by the Federal Drug Administration, despite mounting evidence linking synthetic colors to behavioral issues and chronic disease. 

“Everything You Need to Know About Synthetic Food Dyes” is now available on Amazon and will be available in stores later this year.  

To learn more about the dangers of synthetic food dyes or if you have questions about them, email rebecca.bevans@wnc.edu.