Scientists Warn: Food Colors Damage Kids

A recent study reported in the journal Prescrire International found that artificial food dyes are linked to an increased incidence of hyperactivity in children. Scientists studied 297 children who were representative of the general population to conclude that food colors increase hyperactivity in children, not just children who are sensitive to them.

The scientists also found that children who suffered from hyperactivity saw a worsening of their hyperactivity symptoms when they ingested food colors. In addition to their placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study, they also conducted an analysis of other existing research prior to concluding “it is best to avoid exposing children to artificial food coloring.”

In another study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, the dye tartrazine was linked to behavioural disturbances in normal children. Still more research from doctors at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom found that food dyes have a significant impact on the behaviour of normal children and boost the levels of hyperactivity. These doctors also recommended that these additives be removed from children’s diets.

FDA Stalling Tactics
While numerous independent studies link artificial food colors to hyperactivity in normal, non-sensitive, children, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to claim that there is no proven relationship between food dyes and hyperactivity in children. Beginning yesterday (Wednesday), an FDA advisory committee will attempt to determine whether available research links the dyes and the disorder. Somehow the experts have known this information for years yet the FDA doesn’t have a clue.

Read on to learn how dyes cross the blood-brain barrier…

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Michelle Schoffro Cook, MSc, PhD, RNCP, ROHP

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Ann F.

10:10PM PDT on Apr 15, 2012

My children are in their mid to late 30's and their was a big list of things banned from our household. Lots of fruit & vegies were on the to eat list & water & fresh juice to drink.

send a green star

jane r.

8:26AM PDT on Jun 12, 2011

Good info.

Maritza F.

8:03PM PDT on Apr 9, 2011

The dyes stay in the liver ...eat more fruits and veggies.
No to dyes in food

Jeanne J.

4:53PM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

Good info..

CC R.

5:56PM PDT on Apr 7, 2011

i had no idea that that was wat made kids like this these days thats somehting i need to have alot less of now i guess

Kathleen W.

10:37AM PDT on Apr 6, 2011

Very interesting!

Lika S.

2:21AM PDT on Apr 5, 2011

You want kids to eat healthy and make it fun? Do fruit salad. Red strawberries, blue berries, deep red cherries, pink watermelon, orange cantaloupe, green grapes and/or kiwi, golden pineapple, etc... make a salad out of it.

Same with the veggies, do the dark leaf lettuce, with different color tomatoes, slivered bell peppers & carrots, as well as cubed cucumber. Add a miso paste salad dressing, and it's fun to eat because it's colorful.

Do "ants on a log" where you put peanut butter on celery ribs then press raisins on it. Fajitas are fun too, with the tortillas and the different colored bell peppers and onions in there.

Grace J.

3:14PM PDT on Apr 4, 2011

good information thank you always wondered the dyes were doing

Paula L.

11:08AM PDT on Apr 3, 2011

The fact they have known about food colours & dyes for many years is correct. My youngest daughter was diagnosed as hyperactive, (and she was), at age 6, and the doctor told us then to keep these yellow and especially red colour additives out of her diet. This daughter turns 39 this year. And let me tell you, when she had a glass of red cool aide...the red dye combined with the sugar, you are talking about, antsy, talk,talk,talk, extremely short attention span, etc,etc. Controlling these colours out of her diet, made a huge difference in her ability to function and learn.

Another note folks may want to know, is that the medicine of choice then was Ritalin.....when I read the side effects on it, I immediately went to digging for information to get her onto something that would work that was not going to ruin her health. The number one side effect of Ritalin is cataracts of the eyes. The data of adults in their late 20's and early 30's developing cataracts, that had taken a regimen of Ritalin for hyper-activity when younger, was mind boggling. The product I found that worked better than Ritalin was a product called Spark, it is put out by Advocare. Most people take it to give them an energy boost, but in a child younger than 10 to 11 it works the opposite. It calms them, takes away the nervous energy but does not drug them out like Ritalin does. And there are no long term side effects. My daughter became almost all A student and excelled in whatever she chose to do.

Anthony H.

8:59AM PDT on Apr 3, 2011

This has been known since my kids were at school, why has it taken 30 years for US doctors to catch on?