Artificial Dye Safe to Eat, Panel Says

[Guest guest]

There is no proof that foods with artificial colorings cause

hyperactivity<http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/hyperactivity/ove\

rview.html?inline=nyt-classifier>in

most children and there is no need for these foods to carry special

warning labels, a government advisory panel voted Thursday.

The Food and Drug

Administration<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations\

/f/food_and_drug_administration/index.html?inline=nyt-org>convened

the expert panel after agency scientists for the first time decided

that while typical children may be unaffected by the dyes, those with

behavior problems may see their symptoms

worsen<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/health/policy/30fda.html>by

eating food with synthetic color additives.

The debate over artificial dyes began in the 1970s when Dr.

Feingold, a pediatric allergist from California, had success treating the

symptoms of hyperactivity in some children by prescribing a diet that, among

other things, eliminated foods with artificial coloring.

But once the agency conceded that some children might be negatively affected

by the foods, it had to decide what to do. The Center for Science in the

Public Interest <http://www.cspinet.org/>, an advocacy group, petitioned the

agency to ban the dyes or, at the very least, mandate warnings that foods

containing the dyes cause hyperactivity in children. Major food

manufacturers staunchly defended the safety of artificial dyes and said no

bans or warnings were needed.

Artificial coloring is present in popular products like Froot Loops cereal,

Jell-O, Life Savers candy and Hostess Twinkies.

The F.D.A. did not ask the committee about a ban, and the committee voted 8

to 6 that even a warning was not needed.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association hailed the votes. “We agree with

today’s F.D.A.’s advisory committee finding which determined that there is

insufficient evidence of a causal link between artificial colors and

hyperactivity in children,” it said.

Dr. son, executive director of the advocacy group, said he was

disappointed but pleased that the debate about the safety of artificial

colorings had been renewed. “At least the F.D.A. is now acknowledging that

dyes affect some children,” he said. “That’s a big change.”

LINK <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/health/policy/01fda.html?_r=1>

--

Ortiz, MS, RD

*The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

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