FDA Looking Into Link Between Child Hyperactivity and Food Dyes

I wrote Monday about a new study linking ADHD to a child's diet. The study found that in 64 percent of children with ADHD, the symptoms were caused by food. "It's a hypersensitivity reaction to food." said one of the study's main authors.

And according to the Feingold Diet, released in the 1970s to help combat child hyperactivity, food additives, such as dyes are one of the major foods to avoid. The FDA, it seems is also questioning the relationship between food dyes and hyperactivity.

NPR reported that the FDA is meeting this week to decide whether some foods with added dyes should either be banned or at least carry a warning label to let parents know ahead of time.

"Food dyes are added simply for their color to make foods fun. They serve no health purpose whatsoever," Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest said to NPR.

Jacobson is most concerned about Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6, which make up 90 percent of the food dyes on the market. Though we've been using food dyes for years, use has gone up fivefold in the past 50 years, according to the article. If parents are concerned as to whether there is some truth to this link just be aware of where food dyes are found. They are found in processed, not fresh whole foods. So consider at least limiting a child's intake of these sorts of foods. The Feingold Diet also pointed to the elimination of artificial flavors, added preservatives, Salicylates (a pesticide added to some food plants), and other food additives like sulfites, artificial sweeteners, MSG, and others.

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