Do Food Dyes Make Kids Hyperactive? FDA to Weigh In

by Jason Best, Posted Mar 28th 2011 @ 3:00PM

artificially colored cereal Photo: Lou Manna

Is the Food and Drug Administration preparing to change its position on artificial food dyes?

For years the FDA has maintained that the additives that give everything from Gatorade to Cheetos their distinctive hues are perfectly safe. Currently, there are nine synthetically produced food dyes that are on the agency's list of approved "certified colors."

But one public advocacy organization is asking whether the FDA has been looking at the issue of artificial food coloring through rose-tinted glasses.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest argues that there's mounting evidence to show that artificial food dyes cause behavior changes in some children, and FDA staffers have gone so far to prepare a report for one of the agency's advisory committees detailing a possible link between food coloring and children who have attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, as MSNBC reports.

"For certain susceptible children with ADHD and other problem behaviors, the data suggest their condition may be exacerbated [by certain additives in food including artificial colors]," the report says.

This week, the FDA advisory committee will meet to review the report and hear from outside experts, including the director of CSPI.

Any change in FDA policy would be significant. Although the agency's website admits that there have been concerns about the impact of food dyes on children's behavior since the 1970s, it maintains that science has yet to establish such a link.

Filed Under: Health & Medical, Food News
Tags: FDA, food dye, hyperactivity

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-28-2011 @6:50PM Noadi said... The evidence is weak, only one small study showed a link to increased hyperactivity in kids who already had ADHD the rest is basically just anectdotal evidence and the plural of anecdote is anecdotes not data. I think that study MIGHT be enough for a parent to decide to avoid those dyes if their kid has ADHD (dyes have to be listed as ingredients). However since the dyes are not toxic (hyperactivity is an annoyance to parents and teacher not a life threatening condition) and only potentially affect a subset of children I see no good reason to ban them.
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3-30-2011 @4:34PM KN said... While increased hyperactivity might sound troubling, I agree, it is overall not a major concern. There are more dubious food additives that potentially pose health risks and are more prevalent in foods aimed at both kids and adults.

If children are going to be the focus concern of the moment, then why not instead focus upon targets like mono/diglycerides thrown in kid's cereals. The chance of children eating trans fats is more alarming to me than if they have a harder time paying attention to their English lessons.

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4-13-2011 @3:33AM rockblock said... Here in Europe the state food safety institution already banned these dyes from food, because of these health problems.

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3-29-2011 @8:42AM jlc said... We had neighbor kids who would smash their heads off the floor till they broke teeth off. They had ADHD, food dyes made them like monkeys climbing trees. I once had dinner with Food Scientist from Cornell, and they kept saying how bad blue dye is. Anything blue- candy, cereals, fruits snacks. Blueberries don't count - technically in purple family. There are no natural blue foods. Also, someone needs to start looking at artificial sweetners in common food items like bread, instant oatmeal, chewing gum, juices and countless other common food items...none of which is listed as low calorie or diet. It is now in EVERYTHING. I have to check all my items at the grocery store. My normally docile kids become unable to calm, anxious, unable to listen to simple instructions, and downright defiant...all symptoms of ADHD. Take it out of their diet and they are fine, well behaved children. As for myself, any artificial sweetners cause debilitating headaches, similar to migranes. My husband used to laugh, till he was deployed overseas. He had been drinking more water, and less diet coke or crystal light, for more hydration. Then he picked up a diet drink and he started getting the bad headaches as well. In his case, he can have splenda, but anything else causes him the headaches. Imagine what this does to our family alone, and we are normal healthy individuals. Maybe someone needs to address artificial sweetners when dealing with kids with ADHD, as well as the food dyes. There is so much research with Autistic kids and their diets, maybe we should look at it for other things like ADHD.
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3-30-2011 @6:37PM Andrew Clark said... Sounds to me like the blue theory is a good one... however I still say it is HFCS. That crap is in everything.

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3-30-2011 @11:29AM heidi said... Artificial sweeteners use aspartame. this includes diet soda and all gum. Aspartame is fecal matter from a laboratory bacteria. And causes everything from migraines to cancer.
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3-30-2011 @6:37PM Andrew Clark said... Also high fructose corn syrup would have the same effects AND the energy drinks are LOADED with salt with HFCS to offset it.
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