Artificial Food Coloring Linked to Hyperactivity – FDA to Examine Findings

There have always been questions around the safety of artificial food coloring, but a new study that links it to hyperactivity in children has led the FDA to take another serious look at the products.

For the past two days, a group of scientists and researchers have been presenting arguments and findings on food coloring and attention defecit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to an FDA advisory panel. Research has shown that many children with hyperactivity improve on a diet that excludes artificial colorings – unfortunately, there is also research that shows it may only be an improvement in the eyes of parents, not doctors, teachers and other third parties.

“It’s really murky,” Michael Jacobson, PhD, said of the findings in an interview to WebMD. “But that shouldn’t be a precondition for taking action.” Jacobson is also the Executive Director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a group that in 2008 fought (unsuccessfully) to have 8 of 9 federally approved food dies banned.

He goes on to say that dyes are something used to influence consumers into thinking a food is healthier than it actually is. Food dyes, while heavily regulated, are being used more and more often in foods and beverages, which may be cause for increased alarm. Eugene Arnold, MD and professor emeritus at Ohio State University, presented findings to the FDA people that indicate Americans now consume more than four times the amount of food dyes than they did in 1950.

The FDA panel is expected to vote on best actions to come out of the findings presented to them. It’s being said that a full ban on artificial food coloring is unlikely, food label warnings may be a possibility.