Advocacy group wants 8 artificial food dyes banned

William Atkins
Wednesday, 04 June 2008 20:32

Science - Health

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has requested that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ban eight artificial food dyes because they are negatively linked to child behavior problems.

On June 3, 2008, the petition to ban was made to the FDA by the CSPI for the following eight dyes: Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, and Yellow 6.

The consumer watchdog group made the request based on medical studies made over the past thirty years in Australia, Europe, and the United States.

These studies, the CSPI claim, show that these artificial food dyes may be linked to behavior problems in some sensitive children; specifically, attention and hyperactivity disorders, such as attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (AHDH).

These studies have shown that abnormal behaviors seen in children improve when artificial dyes are removed from their diets, but the behaviors worsen then the synthetic chemicals are re-introduced.

Oftentimes children are placed on medicines, such as Ritalin, in order to control such abnormal behaviors.

The FDA has consistently denied any bad link to artificial food dyes and a health risk to consumers. Julie Zawisza, a spokesperson for the FDA, said that artificial food colorings and dyes are subjected to safety reviews and inspections before being approved as an ingredient in foods for the general population.

Zawisza stated, “(We) didn't find a reason to change our conclusions that the ingredients are safe for the general population.” [DogFlu.ca (Dog Health and Human Health Information): “Food Dye May Soon Be Banned If Advocacy Group Wins”]

Representatives for the Center for Science in the Public Interest state that natural food dyes, which are now in use in Europe and other places, could be used instead of these artificially made dyes.

Michael Jacobson, executive director for the Center, stated, "Americans are now consuming twice as much food dye per person as they did 50 years ago.” WebMD: “Watchdog Group Asks for Food Dye Ban”]

He went on to say that artificial food dyes are used in a wide number of food products, specifically mentioning cereals and soft drinks.

Dyes and colorings (and other such chemicals) are also added to many foods to enhance their color and to make them look more appealing. They are also commonly used in candies and snack foods, which are consumed frequently by children.

Jacobson added that if the FDA does not ban these eight artificial food dyes, then his advocacy group would like to see warning labels on such foods that use artificial food dyes in order to caution people of their potential dangers.

The British government has pursued the removal of artificial food dyes from its foods, unlike the federal government of the United States,

An article describes several identical food products (except for the type of dyes used) in the United States, which uses artificial food dyes, and in the United Kingdom, which use natural food dyes. Please read on for further information.