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Report: Food coloring may cause hyperactive behavior in children

2009-10-22 03:04:51 (GMT) (Caymanmama.com - Food Health News News)

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Bethesda, Maryland (CaymanMama.com) — Although most think juvenile hyperactivity is due to too much sugar from birthday cake or Halloween candy, a new report shows it may most likely be the synthetic chemicals used to make those treats colorful.

“My assumption has always been that sugar makes kids hyperactive,” said Dara O’Rourke, a professor of environmental and labor policy at UC Berkeley and founder of Good Guide.

“The thing that was surprising to me is that hyperactivity is more heavily correlated with artificial colorings than with natural sugars.” O’Rourke said the food dyes used to make festive colors in frosting, sprinkles, beverages, cake mixes, and other packaged foods is the culprit for what really makes children kids hyperactive.

According to a Yahoo! Green story, “A British study published in the Lancet in 2007, which included more than 300 kids in the general public, found a connection between artificial colorings and hyperactivity. Follow-up studies have confirmed results, according to O’Rourke, although more research is needed to provide conclusive evidence.”

In the U.S., the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) issued a stern petition with the FDA requesting that eight food dyes be banned.

The best way to avoid administering these harmful dyes to children is to stick to healthy foods including fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and eggs instead of kid-marketed, packaged food.

Avoid questionable food dyes identified by the FSA and/or CSP including:

* Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40 (both groups)
* Yellow 10, Carmoisine, Red 4 (FSA)
* Blue 1, Blue 2 Green 3, Orange B, Red 3 (CSPI)



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