Do food dyes affect kids' behavior?

I have been doing a home "trial" with my 7 y/o daughter for the past month or so. Here's the deal: I am very skeptical about things like, "The dye in foods makes your kids act nutty." But, I figured I'd give it a try. Something, ANYTHING, that would help my very bright, yet very inattentive and sometimes, wild, daughter to calm down...get focused.
I have to say, after about a two weeks, I told my husband that I thought I'd seen a change in her. But, subtle. Today was the big event that was truly the "yes...dye DOES have an effect on behavior." This morning, she's WILD. Jumping on the bed, racing around, pulling the covers over her 3 y/o brother's head to make him scream...just out of control compared to how she's been. I woke thinking, "what has happend to her?" I came down to the kitchen and she'd gotten into candy canes, in big letters on the box, "RED DYE 40." Then, she said to me after I asked about why she'd get into candy without asking me, "I don't feel good inside. I'm all jumpy."
So, there was enough proof for me, that I'm doing the right thing by taking dye away from my kids. It's not just taking away candy though. Look at Macaroni & Cheese boxes. They contain yellow dye. Dyes are in a lot of foods, not just candy.
If you look around, dye has been linked to cancer, birth defects, etc. So,...I think everyone should at least try and see if they can help their children. I know that my daughter feels better without the dye, and that's important to me!

basically food colouring give you adhd

eat drink be happy and shut the fuck up about behavior issues omg we worry to much about shit that has no use being talked about

I can't remember where... but I remember hearing that sugar gives you energy, but the hyperactivity is purely psychosomatic.

I believe food dyes do affect kids beavior. Even grownups. I have watched my granddaughters whole personaity change for the worst after eating icy pops with not only red dyes, but other colors too.Also sugar. I keep telling my daughter and she will not listen. Also sugars, oh my gosh. Studies done on sugar are telling us more and more that it is poison to our systems. Look at all of the obesity and Diabetes.I wish it gave me energy. It just makes me sleep and feel bad, plus affects my kidneys. Dr say, I 'm not diabetic, but would like some answers. All of the preservatives, artificial dyes, flavorings, affects, not only children,but adults and I believe causing a lot of cancers. Our church prayer list is full of names with cancer patients.I believe the Environment, health and beauty products and diets,of differents foods we eat are to blame.

Also many people have food sensitivities to these artificial ingredients that is why organic diets can help so many disorders ranging from leaky gut to adhd to autism spectrum disorders

It's not hard to see that for literally millions of generations, children REQUIRED attention and learning in order to survive evolution! Today a child's BRAIN cannot do either? It's not rocket science to look at environmental factors such as recent changes in diet patterns.

Certainly there are other factors but what percentage of the foods eaten by children today actually existed 500 years ago? The answer might surprise you!

sgwhites,

Diagnosis? Let's face it, the medical profession has been turned into a Baskin Robbins franchise.

NEXT!

swiftone,

A psych prof I knew told me - in 1980 - red dye 45 should be banned. They knew then that it was harmful. He knew it woudn't be touched and steered clear of anything that could contain it.

I have personally witnessed otherwise calm, grounded, well-behaved children (including my own son) turn into the tasmanian devil on crack after consuming red dye 45!!

Not surprising, and I'm also not surprised that doctors seem to be skeptical, considering that most doctors seem so reluctant to even consider that physical or behavioral problems could be the result of what you're eating. I guess nutrition is too complicated of a fix if you've got a pill that will do almost the same thing...with side effects, of course.

I think they can have an effect, especially on children who are sensitive to coloring and additives.

josephhunter,

100% Agreed.

Adding a risky 'cosmetic' to foods is simply stupid when other safer, cheaper and natural products are available..

Anybody looked up the downsides of Aspartame, recently...

Now there's a story of how warped commerce has become.

the word "artificial" should not be used to describe food ingredients. food production methods are stupid!

that is not really a surprise because everybody knows that junk food is bad for you

hmmm this is interesting!
why do they still
use it if this is true?

thats so wired why would they still make that then?

I think that this is insane because why they still use it. ;)

The Bush Administration actually allowed proper testing of food additives on...

Oh, sorry, it happened in the UK. It figures. No neo-cons running their version of the EPA, or FDA. If it happened here some speechwriter would have it suppressed. Derelection, whether it be financial or medical just seems to come natiuarlly to these clowns.

I have two friends who are not related, and both have ADHD. Their moms took out all artificial colors and flavours from their diet, and they really calmed down.
Why take stimulants when there may be a better natural solution.

I think that's insane why is this still being used.

Great point Holy
I girl I dated would get migraines or mood swings from certain dyes. Her parents thought she was just seeking attention until they had her tested at 10.

if it doesn't grow naturally then you were not meant to consume it....

the end

As someone who suffers from hyperactivity myself (and I'm 35) I can personally say that these chemicals have a real effect.
I noticed as a teenager that certain foods produced highly erratic behaviour in me and as a result I learned to avoid them.
When I became a parent, I avoided these things in my children's diet. As a result I'm in a position to note the difference in their behaviour when they go to a birthday party or some such event and get a belly full of smarties. The difference is pronounced.

I know the plural of anecdote isn't data but the studies last year supported the observations of countless parents.

These things do have an effect.

Drink red stuff, go insane.