I recently got a comment from someone who was very unhappy about not showing enough scientific research to educate people about the harmful nature of synthetic dyes and the harmful effects on behavior. Here is the comment I received, ...
"I hope everyone realizes that testimonials are NOT SCIENCE. Those these stories are touching, they do not prove Red 40 caused anything. I'm interested in the science. Are there peer reviewed scientific papers that link Red 40 to behavioural issues. If so, please post so that I may learn something and take actions if necessary. If not, then all this testimonial stuff is pure junk. DO NOT TAKE MEDICAL/NUTRITIONAL ADVICE FROM TESTOMINIALS. USE SCIENCE!!!I hope everyone realizes that testimonials are NOT SCIENCE. Those these stories are touching, they do not prove Red 40 caused anything. I'm interested in the science. Are there peer reviewed scientific papers that link Red 40 to behavioural issues. If so, please post so that I may learn something and take actions if necessary. If not, then all this testimonial stuff is pure junk. DO NOT TAKE MEDICAL/NUTRITIONAL ADVICE FROM TESTOMINIALS. USE SCIENCE!!!"So, in my attempt to include some scientific evidence I wrote the following comments:
"The New York Times published an article in September 2007, reporting on a study published in the Lancet and funded by Britain's Food Standards Agency that had “conclusively and scientifically confirmed a link between food additives and hyperactivity.”
Read more: http://technorati.com/women/article/artificial-colors-linked-to-behavioral-problems/#ixzz1qQdyhlBY
Here is a little more on that: http://blog.advantig.net/2009/10/why-advantig-products-dont-contain-artificial-colors-preservatives/
"Despite concerns with the British study, European lawmakers now require a warning label on foods that contain artificial dyes. It lets parents know their kids might become hyperactive if they consume the product." http://www.npr.org/2011/03/30/134962888/fda-probes-link-between-food-dyes-kids-behavior
"Some of the studies are difficult or imperfect. ... But there is this body of literature that does suggest that food colorings are not as benign as people have been led to believe."
- Andrew Adesman, developmental and behavioral pediatrics expert
Here is more information and maybe more than you would like to read...
http://nah.sagepub.com/content/3/3/137.full.pdf+html
As you can see the scientific research on this subject has left many people uneasy on this subject. While we wait for the scientific research to formulate a very valid study, we are not going to idly sit by and watch our children (those who are sensitive to the dyes) become affected by these artificial colors. Removing the dyes from our child's diet proved a direct correlation to behavioral changes after consuming the artificial coloring (namely red dye 40 for our son).
"Research on pediatric behaviors can be difficult and expensive to conduct since it often involves regular and subjective assessments of children by parents and teachers who should be kept in the dark about the specifics of the test. And since the patents on the dyes expired long ago, manufacturers have little incentive to finance such research themselves." By GARDINER HARRIS
Published: March 29, 2011 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/health/policy/30fda.html
Today, after more research, I found this......
[PPT] Food Dyes & Behavior
What angers me most about the harmful nature of artificial colors is the lack of scientific research. While we wait for the scientific community to catch up, I plan to take action and buy products that do not contain these synthetic dyes. After all, scientifically would anyone think that consuming petroleum products are beneficial? What is the recommended limit of consuming these dyes? Well, it's in virtually everything that can be produced these days so whether you are aware of it or not the American population is consuming more than the recommended limit.
