Food Additives & Kids' Hyperactivity

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration describes a food additive in general terms as anything added to food, but synthetically produced food preservatives and colorings have been linked with hyperactivity in children since theories began to emerge in the 1970s.

Types

• Food additives that are commonly associated with hyperactive behavior in children are listed by the Mayo Clinic as sodium benzoate, FD&C yellow No. 6, D&C yellow No. 10, FD&C yellow No. 5 and FD&C red No. 40. FD&C yellow additives are commonly linked with hyperactivity as they are often used in candy and soda beverages.

Uses

• According to the European Food Information Council, additives are typically added to food in an attempt to preserve food in a fresh state for longer periods and halt the advance of dangerous organisms that can form in food that is not fresh.

Link

• Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Information Council agree that the link between hyperactivity and food additives has not been proven despite a number of research studies carried out since the theory was floated in the 1970s.

ADHD

• According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, children who are affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) who have allergies to certain food additives have been reported to have improved symptoms when additives have been removed their diet.

Allergies

• Despite the link between hyperactivity and food additives never being successfully proven, a number of allergies to food additives have resulted in symptoms such as skin inflammation, sinus congestion and hives, according to the European Food Information Council.