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Food Dyes and Hyperactivity

Officially, reaction to food dye isn't an allergy. Instead it is classified as an "intolerance," but for those dealing with hyperactivity, these dyes can cause extreme reactions. Dyes affect everyone differently, so it is important to talk to your doctor if you're concerned about how these ingredients are affecting you.

  1. FDA Stance

    • The FDA's stance is that food dyes have no link to hyperactivity, since studies have been inconclusive. However, parents have reported positive results by cutting out dyes from their children's diets.

    Types of Food Dyes

    • The food dyes in question are those that are petroleum based chemical products, not natural dyes made from sources like beets.

    Studies

    • The first study done on dye claimed that 20 to 50 percent of hyperactive children saw significant improvements after removing dyes from their diets. Subsequent studies have shown dyes cause hyperactivity in rat pups and that dyes affect some children dealing with AD/HD. More studies of larger groups are needed for results to be conclusive.

    U.K. Voluntary Dye Recalls

    • In the U.K., the possible link between hyperactivity and food dyes has caused the Food Standards Agency to ask companies to voluntarily recall or stop using six different food dyes, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times.

    People Affected

    • The link between dyes and hyperactivity has been studied in children, mostly in conjunction with those suffering from AD/HD. However, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times, studies show that these dyes could cause hyperactivity even in children without AD/HD.

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