Artificial food colorings and colors are common ingredients in multiple edibles, including candy, cereal and popcorn. It’s hard to escape consuming artificial dyes. Several reports and studies have suggested that these artificial ingredients may cause negative neurological effects, including hyperactivity, in children, with or without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
A report published in California in April 2021 found that out of 27 clinical trials, about 64% of the cases showed an association between food dyes and the erratic behavior of children. “The evidence supports a link between exposure to food dyes and adverse behavioral disorders,” the report said.
According to an NBC report, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also acknowledged the association, saying that children predisposed to ADHD may witness a worsening of symptoms and condition when exposed to “foods, including, but not limited to, artificial food colors.” The FDA says it could be due to a unique intolerance or sensitivity to the artificial substance.
Artificial food dyes have been the subject of debate since the very first study in the 1970s, which revealed the interaction between food dyes and the human body and its outcome.
Senator Bob Wieckowski, who currently sits in the California Senate, has been a staunch advocate against the use of artificial food colorings. In fact, he’s the author of a bill he’s been working on since 2017 that would require a mandatory warning label to be applied to foods containing dyes.
Senator Bob says he doesn’t want to ban the artificial ingredient, but wants companies to shed more light on the matter by putting a warning label on their products. “It is important for parents to have this information as they seek ways to help their children with behavioral problems. By raising awareness through warning labels, parents will be informed about the adverse effects of food coloring and can make informed food choices for their children,” he said in a press release.
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