Anytime children are bouncing off the walls, the blame always seems to be put on sugar.  However, some new research suggests that artificial colors may be the real culprit.

After a 2007 report published in the medical journal, the Lancet, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (like the US’s Food and Drug Administration) requested food makers to willingly recall six artificial colors by 2009.  Many companies seemed to have complied.  In July the European Parliament added warning labels stating, “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children” on food items that contained certain synthetic dyes.

Many scientists believe that food dyes are linked to hyperactivity, even in children who don’t normally display that type of behavior.

The FDA considers the nine synthetic colors in question safe.  This claim is based on a consensus report by the National Institute of Health in 1982.

Currently the FDA is reviewing a petition submitted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest on a ban of eight artificial food colors allowed for use in processed foods.  The dyes include: Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Orange B, Yellow 6, and Yellow 5.   The Center for Science also requested that the FDA put a warning label on the foods that contain the eight dyes.

Current Studies:
•    2004:  The New York psychiatrist Dr. David Schab conducted an analysis of 15 studies that linked dyes and hyperactivity.  He concluded that food dye promotes hyper activeness in children already diagnosed as hyperactive.
•    2003:  The University of Southampton conducted a study involving 277 3-year-old children who were given a diet free of artificial coloring and benzoate preservatives for one week.  During the next three weeks the children were given either drinks containing artificial yellow and red coloring, soda preservative sodium benzoate or a placebo.  The study found a link between hyperactivity and dye.
•    2007:  The University of Southampton published a second study with the same findings.