U.S. asks if food dyes make kids hyperactive

[Guest guest]

U.S. regulators are weighing a question parents have asked since the 1970s:

do artificial food dyes make children hyperactive?

A consumer group has petitioned the government to ban blue, green, orange,

red and yellow food colorings. The synthetic dyes are common in food and

drinks ranging from PepsiCo's Gatorade, Cheetos and Doritos to Kellogg's

Eggo waffles and Kraft's Jell-O desserts.

Manufacturers say reviews by regulators around the world confirm the dyes

are safe. The Center for Science in the Public Interest argues, however,

there is plenty of data showing the dyes trigger hyperactivity in kids who

are predisposed to it.

" There is convincing evidence that food dyes impair the behavior of some

children, " said son, head of the consumer group famous for

exposing the fat and calories in movie-theater popcorn and fast food.

son and others will testify next week before a Food and Drug

Administration advisory committee that will consider the question on

Wednesday and Thursday. The FDA will hear the advisers' views before

deciding whether to take any action, which could take months or years.

FDA reviewers, in documents prepared for the advisory panel, said scientific

research so far suggested some children with attention deficit and

hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be affected by food coloring. The disorder

affects up to 5 percent of U.S. children, according to government

statistics.

" For certain susceptible children with ADHD and other problem behaviors, the

data suggest their condition may be exacerbated " by substances in food

including artificial colors, the FDA staff wrote in a preliminary analysis.

For the general population, the FDA " concludes that a causal relationship "

between the dyes and hyperactivity " has not been established, " the agency

staff said.

At the panel meeting next week, the FDA will ask outside experts if they

agree with the agency's conclusions or if they think more studies are

needed.

Concerns about food dyes erupted in the 1970s when a pediatrician, Dr. Ben

Feingold, claimed the colors were linked to hyperactive behavior and

proposed a diet eliminating them.

Questions flared again after a 2007 British study of kids who drank fruit

drinks with food colorings and preservatives.

The scientists concluded the colorings worsened hyperactive behavior and

also affected kids not previously diagnosed with

ADHD.

Other researchers said the study had limitations. A 2009 review by European

authorities concluded all data available at the time did not support a link

between food colorings and hyperactivity.

The 2008 petition from CSPI asked the FDA to ban all but one of the dyes,

calling them " dangerous and unnecessary. " The exception, Citrus Red No. 2,

is used only on orange skins. Companies could substitute natural colors,

fruit or fruit juices, CSPI said.

LINK<http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/25/us-food-dyes-idUSTRE72O4S92011032\

5?pageNumber=2>

--

Ortiz, MS, RD

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

Check out my blog: mixture of deals and nutrition

Magazines.com – $5 off + 28% cashback exp.

3/31<http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=17588>“The

Complete Idiots Guide To The Mediterranean Diet” By A. Tessmer, RD

LD $11.52 <http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=17405>Made my own " funny but

real " movie: Me interviewing a " potential " Dietetic

student<

*Healthy Diet at any Age: We are NOT just looking

*

*at the years people have behind them but also the

*

*quality of the years ahead of them.*