Listener Sommer calls in to ask why she can buy foods in her grocery store that other countries have banned. Trying to figure out what all the chemicals and dyes in her food might do to her has left her with one question: “Don’t you care about us?” This week on Explain It to Me, host Jonquilyn Hill gets some answers (and a scary story about orange dye!) from Vox producer Kimberly Mas and the Environmental Working Group’s Melanie Benesh.

Election Day is less than a week away. To commiserate, we’re producing a special episode featuring your election-related questions and experiences, from heading to the polls to processing the results. So save our number now 1-800-618-8545 and call us next week with what you suddenly need to know. 

Read More:Why food recalls are everywhere right nowWatch Kim’s video about Red Dye No. 3 here

Credits:Jonquilyn Hill, hostSofi LaLonde, producerCristian Ayala, engineerAnouck Dussaud, fact-checkerCarla Javier, supervising producerJorge Just, editorLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices