FDA Urged To Ban Some Food Dyes

Group Says 8 Artificial Colorings May Cause Hyperactivity And Behavior Problems In Some Kids

(CBS/ AP)  A consumer advocacy group called on the Food and Drug Administration Tuesday to ban the use of eight artificial colorings in food because the additives may cause hyperactivity and behavior problems in some children.

Controlled studies conducted over three decades have shown that children's behavior can be worsened by some artificial dyes, says the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The group noted the British government is successfully pressuring food manufacturers to switch to safer colorings.

Over the years, the FDA has consistently disputed the center's assertion. The agency's Web site contains a 2004 brochure that asks the question: "Do additives cause childhood hyperactivity?"

"No. Although this hypothesis was popularized in the 1970's, well-controlled studies conducted since then have produced no evidence that food additives cause hyperactivity or learning disabilities in children," the agency said.

Julie Zawisza, an FDA spokeswoman, said Tuesday that color additives undergo safety reviews prior to approval for marketing and that samples of each artificial coloring are tested. She said the agency reviewed one of the studies that the center cites in its petition calling for a ban.

"(We) didn't find a reason to change our conclusions that the ingredients are safe for the general population," Zawisza said. "Also note that the European Food Safety Agency has a similar view."

Food manufacturers agree with the FDA's claim that food dyes are safe, telling CBS News: "There is no need for consumers to alter their purchasing and eating habits."

But Beth Tribble says her 9-year-old Michael experienced hyperactivity, impulsivity and restlessness for years - until the minute she removed the dyes from his diet, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.

"There is no purpose for these dyes to be in our food," Tribble said.

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Read Nancy Cordes' blog about food dyes.

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Whole Foods and Trader Joe's claim their products have none - but in most supermarkets, dye-filled foods can be hard to spot, reports Cordes.

Dyes are used in countless foods and are sometimes used to simulate the color of fruits or vegetables. The additives are particularly prevalent in the cereals, candies, sodas, and snack foods pitched to kids.

"The purpose of these chemicals is often to mask the absence of real food, to increase the appeal of a low-nutrition product to children, or both," said the center's executive director, Michael F. Jacobson. "Who can tell the parents of kids with behavioral problems that this is truly worth the risk?"

The center's petition asks the FDA to require a warning label on foods with artificial dyes while it mulls the group's request to ban the dyes outright.

Robert Brackett, chief science officer for the Grocery Manufacturers Association, said the overwhelming majority of scientific evidence confirms the safety of certified food dyes.

"Based on these findings, there is no need for consumers to alter their purchasing and eating habits," Brackett said. "They and their children can safely enjoy food products containing these food colors."

The colorings the center seeks to ban are: Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, and Yellow 6.

[mom4change]

Artificial dyes, namely red dye 40, has wrecked havoc in my household for three years. My children are affected and became violent, angry, tantrums, easily frustrated, extremely sensitive, poor motor coordination, and unable to complete classwork. After taking away the artificial dyes, my children have changed to the complete opposite. It is like turning on a light after they ingest this stuff. I even created a blog
reddyefree.blogspot.com to advocate for all the children who are affected and those who don't know that it may still be harmful to them. My husband is a neurologist and has seen dramatic results.

[cpn2003]

There is enough evidence to conclude that food dyes and additives affect neurological functioning and behavior. I don''t know how anyone here can dispute it (or why they would frankly?) So many sites, so many studies, please educate yourself if you don''t believe this is an issue for many children (and adults!) today. This was all over the news over the last few days especially. See some links below or search for yourselves. You definitely are what you eat!!
http://cspinet.org/new/200806022.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/06/03/couricandco/entry4151130.shtml

[izzypop7]

thanks for the info.Im just starting this with my son who was born 3 months early and has ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, aggression and rage issues. Other dietary changes didnt work..eggs, wheat etc.I did find out that red and blue candy/popsicles turn his stool BRIGHT GREEN! But the DR said that was normal....Hello? whats his idea of normal? thank you

[fierh]

Izzypop, go to www.feingold.org and order the shopping guide for $69. It will list regular foods you can buy at almost any grocery store that are free of these artificial colors. Not only are these foods dye free, they are also free of artifical flavors and preservatives. PS: Most artifical colors, flavors and preservatives are made from crude oil.

[izzypop7]

Gramma.. obviously you dont get it! Even if we are all wrong about Dyes, what harm do we parents do by giving our children healthier options of normal food.Why is it the Mars company sends natural M &Ms to
the UK but sells them in USA with 6 artificial Dyes? Anyone with half a brain should see this as a problem?

[wagyb]

I agree that I have seen children react to an overload of dye. However, not every child has the behavioral side effects. My son''s reaction is NOT behavioral, it is a reaction that is very dangerous in that at any time, if he were exposed to a "unknown" amount of dye, his throat could swell shut. He get''s huge welts and rash. There are so many products out there that contain dyes that you would not expect to. We watch labels and you would be surprised and the companys have gotten tricky about it in some products because they use names other than "Red 40, Blue 3, etc." not just in junk foods; fruits and vegetables, fresh and canned; toothpaste; medicine (I have to have some of my son''s medicines compounded at a special pharmacy); soap, shampoo; detergent; etc.
I just pray someone will listen and these children can get some satisfaction that their suffering, because I''ll guess 99% are not happy by their behavior or physical responses to these dyes.
Naysayers, Spend one day in the life of one of these children when they have a reaction to being exposed to a dye unknowingly. It''s pretty scary, when you''re child swells up all over his body, because he has eaten an orange or been kissed by his grandmother and her lipstick caused a reaction.

[ktinwi]

Grammawhamma - I wish it were true that the dyes were mainly just in sweets and junkfood. The truth is they are in everything from the multivitamin and cereal we serve for breakfast to the Mac-n-cheese they might eat for dinner. (and lots more so-called healthy stuff that they eat in between...yogurt, fruit snacks, cereal bars... ) I''d rather my kids ate all natural cookies that a bowl of kraft Mac and cheese. It''s not about sugar content. These dyes can be found at every meal. It''s no wonder ADHD is at an all time high.

[jennpalmer1]

GrammaWhamma - I think you missed my post! Dyes are in so much more than just sweets and junk foods, and it can be tricky for even the healthiest eaters to stay away from them. Salmon, oranges, ''healthy'' cereals, toothpastes, and the list goes on...

[feintheway]

There is no reason for dye to be in our food. The diagnoses of ADHD has gone up dramatically, which is consistant with the amount of food dyes that are now regularly used in all kinds of food. Not just junk food. I found out dyes were bad due to the volatile behavior my son had whenever he had to take an antibiotic (pink or course). Over the summer when I was in full control of his diet he was great. Then school would start and the bad behaviors would come back. He was not allowed to buy "junk" food or drinks. This was the "healthful" food that the school serves. Needless to say, we pack lunch everyday and all is good. I see no reason for some on this board to be so defiant and upset about the fact that food dyes do cause problems for people. It just does, and that is a fact.

[grammawhamma]

KTINWI: I will repeat my prior post since you obviously missed it.


Read the article....the majority of the dyes are in sweets and junk food. Kids shouldn''''t be given that c.r.a.p anyway.


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Posted by GrammaWhamma at 03:53 AM : Jun 04, 2008

[rettsd]

My daughter is living proof that we are using to many chemicals, dyes and enhancers in our diets. She not only had behavioral problems but suffered incontinence and irritable bowel syndrome any time she had food containing certain chemicals/dyes. I have to agree that the only time it is "bad parenting" is when you don''t take action other than perscriptions to handle an issue with your child.

[izzypop7]

its a vicious cycle. Like parents of children with disibilities arent stressed enough!

[genericmom]

AND....if dye were ONLY in sweets and junk, I wouldn''t complain. But it''s in cereal (Life for example) and kids vitamins, and toothpaste and medicines. It''s even in white foods like marshmellos...Blue 1 makes the product whiter! Living a dye free existance takes committment and hard work. I read every label on every product my family is going to put into their body. Dyes are MUCH more pervasive than the average person knows. And the dyes are petroleum based. Why would you put a petroleum product in food? To make it "meet consumer expectations?" How about not poisoning us, that''s MY expectation.

[izzypop7]

I have a son with several conditions because of prematurity NOT parenting. How does one afford these organic foods when money is so tight? we are in a financial bind now with medical issues. I blame the government for pushing organic prices up cause they cant stay competitive

[genericmom]

I think everyone always assumed bad behavior after eating something like Skittles was due to sugar...we''re getting closer to admitting it was really the dyes. All I know is my daughter is controllable when we eliminate dyes from her diet. Before we eliminated dyes, I refused to take her out in public because her behavior was so unpredictable and inappropriate.

Nobody is talking about killing puppies...this is the kind of behavior that makes little Timmy''s teacher insist on Ritalin, turning little Timmy into a zombie, not helping him learn better but making him easier to control and less distracting in a class room. Eating organic or dye free food is a better and safer way to control little Timmy.

[ktinwi]

Extremophil, we enjoy a diet full of rich vibrant colors - our fruits, our vegetables - heck, even our cupcakes are colored naturally. If I were to serve you a meal free of food dyes, you''d never know it. (and you''d enjoy the food so much, you would''nt care!)

[deeberj]

jboxton, you don''t know what you are talking about.When my child eats all natural food and no artificial dyes, his behavior is normal. When he eats artificial dyes, his behavior is awful. Because we avoid artificials, his behaivor is always normal now. How is this bad parenting?

And Extremophil, food had color long before artificial dyes were invented. Real food is not grey.

It''s only bad parenting to allow something to go on knowing it adversely affects your child''s life.

[ktinwi]

Grammawhamma - you''re way out of line. I challenge you to spend a week with an ADHD child on Skittles and Hi-C -and see any improvement with your "discipline techniques". It just won''t happen. Indulging our kids with these colors, is like giving them a cocktail every morning - and you can''t reason with a drunk. I run a daycare and have seen first-hand the difference between disciplining a child on a healthy additive free diet vs disciplining a child pumped with food dyes. For that reason, I refuse to serve anything but all natural meals and snacks at my daycare. My discipline methods are far more effective that way.
Using the dyes as a scapegoat? Naah -it would be way easier for me to blame the parents - that way I could feed them cheap and easy convenience foods. I''d rather be honest and do right by the parents and the kids. A little extra money and effort on my behalf makes my job a lot easier. A child who is not "under the influence" is not only better behaved, but learns better - from their abc''s to the house rules.
Anyone who has tried eliminating these additives from a child''s diet knows the difference it makes - anyone who hasn''t shouldn''t be so quick to judge.

[kalleym]

I am a Special Education Life Skills Teacher in Texas. I have been a Life Skills teacher for 5 years. I know the difference in all behavior problems and attitudes! Who knows what causes what problem...ADHD, ADD, AUTISM, OCD, ED...whatever the diagnosis. BUT, I do know that food dyes cause seizures! I currently found this out after a student of mine was having multiple seizures after eating the cafeteria food. So, my thought is that if these dyes are causing a child to suffer with ADHD or seizures, then why not pay closer attention to what manufacturers are putting in the foods. It may not look good to eat, but isn''t being healthy and preventing disorders what we REALLY need to think about?

[jennpalmer1]

Well, luckily I''m not a fat liberal soccer mom! I guess you are welcome to your opinions. But I can tell you that your perception is very wrong about these parents and kids.

Take a good look at the INDEPENDENT research. It''s there in writing that scientists with nothing to gain see the changes in children when given these chemicals. www.feingold.org has got tons of information on research that backs this up.

I live this horror every day. If my son gets any food chemicals, he absolutely has bad behavioral reactions. It can range from being extremely emotional to kicking and hitting our dog to being very hyper and impulsive to even being a little OCD. As long as we are very strict about his diet, he is a wonderful child who needs very little discipline.

The parents of these kids work really hard to understand what is going on with their kids. When the children have these reactions, there really is not much they can do to make it better. Discipline really has no (or very little) effect when my son is reacting to these chemicals. Discipline does however work if he is chemical free. We are not bad parents for understanding all of this.