What is the scoop on food dyes?

The question: do artificial food dyes have any impact on autism, allergies and ADHD?  The answer: the debate is inconclusive.

Earlier this year the FDA’s advisors came down on the side of further research being needed rather than more stringent labeling or even bans. Here is the relevant FDA page. This cautious decision irritated advocates like the Center for Science in the Public Interest who argued that dyes are on their way to being eliminated in Europe so why not here? This is partly true – the bans are in specific countries, not Europe-wide.

Food dyes, such as Red 40 (Allura Red), Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) and Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow) make up 90 percent of the food dyes on the market. They are made from petroleum and they appear in many (junk) foods – potato chips, candy, sodas, cereals, as well as birthday cakes and medicines. They aren’t essential; they are just for the coloring.

Do they make kids hyper?

My own view is that there are a lot of things that can make kids hyper and this may be one of them but on its own it is not going to have much effect. These things are cumulative. I don’t see the point of totally denying a kid a soda, and they find ways of getting them at school anyway, but why make it easy for them? Then there are the other environmental factors – too much junk food, not enough exercise, way too much electronic stimulation and not enough down time, overly restrictive schooling (kids have to blow off steam), chemicals sprayed on fruit and in the packaging, preservatives and so on. It all mounts up and if some kids are sensitive to certain foods (nuts, gluten, etc.), then it is logical that food dyes may play a role too and it is better to be cautious by avoiding them as much as possible.

If you truly believe food dyes are a problem for your kids, check out this website. A better solution is a healthier diet that includes fruit and vegetables and no junk. In the meantime, manufacturers overseas are looking increasingly to natural dyes made from beets and turmeric and this seems like a good way to go, even though they are more expensive and less stable. My guess is that the U.S. eventually will follow Europe in this matter.