Red food dye and hyperactivity
You can find red dye in a variety of foods — Jell-O, Kool-Aid and even children’s Motrin. Some parents worry that their children are sensitive to red food dye, and that the additive makes children act hyper or wired. Should you be concerned?
Research shows that red dye and other artificial substances in food probably do not make any difference in every child’s behavior. But for some children — about one in 100 — additives may contribute to a child’s being more active or out of control.
Dr. Spock.com recommends conducting your own experiment to find out if your child is one of the few who reacts to red dye:
Mix some red-dye-containing food into a food that is already red and has a strong taste (for example, add some red jello to spaghetti sauce). Watch to see if she behaves differently after she eats it. After a few days, feed your child the same food without the added dye, and see how her subsequent behavior compares. This sort of test is harmless and may help you determine whether or not your child is sensitive to red dye. Ideally, you would observe your child for a long period of time, but it can be challenging to control everything she eats — especially when she’s not with you.
Even if red dye does not affect your child, it is still recommended that you try to reduce her intake of artificial ingredients. Natural food is more wholesome.
For an opposite point of view, read The scary truth about food colorings.
Please tell me how you arrived at the figure of only one child in a hundred reacting to food dyes. I have been working in this area since 1976 and I am not aware of any research to support such a low number. In fact, the newest research shows that most children have a negative reaction to them. This study, conducted by the University of Southampton in England found that a modest amount of food dye, plus one preservative, brought on ADHD symptoms in most of the children. The study was published in The Lancet last year. (see http://www.diet-studies.com)
A few years earlier, a meta-anaylsis from Harvard and Columbia examined the studies to date on food dyes and found that they provided clear support for the link between dyes and behavior/learning problems.
As a result of these and other studies, the British government is cautioning parents about these additives and the European Union has voted to require a ban on any foods that contain them.
My colleagues and I at the non-profit Feingold Association (www.feingold.org) have seen that few people do not suffer harm of some sort from these petroleum derivatives. That’s not surprising since research has shown they are linked to many health problems inclding: asthma, migraine headaches, hives, immune system damage, nerve damage, reproductive damage, hyperactivity, learning disorders, DNA damage and cancer - to name a few.
Virtually every type of food that contains these dyes can also be found in natural versions…sometimes at a lower cost. Dyes benefit the manufacturers, who can reduce costs by removing real food and adding synthetic ingredients in their place. Many things carry risk and benefit; in this case the risk is ours and the benefits go to the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.
If foods provided complete information, such as “made with yellow 5, a synthetic chemical that is manufactured in petroleum refineries in China, and can trigger behavior, learning and health problems” chances are few moms would even consider feeding it to their families.
Jane Hersey, National Director
Feingold Association of the US
PS Using Jell-O as test a material isn’t such a good idea since you will not know if the reaction(s) came from the dye(s) or from the artificial flavorings — more petrochemicals.
Comment by Jane Hersey — October 3, 2008 @ 1:28 am
Whoops, I mistakenly said that the European Union will require a “ban” on foods that contain the dyes. What I meant to say is that they will require a warning label on such foods. Ah, the power of wishful thinking!
Jane
Comment by Jane Hersey — October 3, 2008 @ 1:31 am
Hi Jane, I got the figure 1 in 100 from http://www.DrSpock.com. Thanks for your post!
Comment by Mary — October 3, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
The link is bad - I found this one: http://www.sheknows.com/articles/805661.htm - the Scary Truth About Food Coloring. HTH!
Comment by PerfectReign — October 17, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
Thanks PerfectReign! I changed the link on the article, too.
Comment by Mary — October 26, 2008 @ 4:07 pm