Studies Reveal Artificial Colors can have a Negative Effect on Children's Behavior

     Finally, in the year 2014, what many parents have realized but were criticized for, the negative effects of artificial colors on children's behavior has finally been validated with research.  Also, many major food companies have recently taken out artificial colors from their products.  The real change and the factors leading this major movement is consumer demand.  We all have the power to influence change - whether we buy the food or not is a choice.  That choice determines whether or not manufacturers will continue to use harmful ingredients at the expense of our children, or to formulate healthier ingredients in their products.
*See the last link below to help make a difference*      


Below is a compilation of some of the latest research on Artificial colors with quotes following each link.    

/Artificial Food Colors and Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Symtoms/ Conclusions to Dye For

"AFCs are not a major cause of ADHD per se, but seem to affect children regardless of whether or not they have ADHD, and they may have an aggregated effect on classroom climate if most children in the class suffer a small behavioral decrement with additive or synergistic effects."


Are artificial food colorings worse for kids than sugar?
"A handful of clinical trials found that a small percentage of children experience attention problems and agressive behavior when they consume 35 mg a day of synthetic coloring, while a larger percentage experiences behavioral problems at doses of 100 mg a day or higher."

Purdue-study-Artificial dyes highest in beverages, cereal, and candy
"New research from Purdue University scientists has revealed the dye content of scores of packaged food products, some of which contain more than the 35 mg per serving that has been shown in certain trials to affect behavior among a small percentage of children."

First-ever Study Reveals Amounts of Food Dyes in Artificial Foods
"According to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, the findings are disturbing since the amounts of dyes found in even single servings of numerous foods—or combinations of several dyed foods—are higher than the levels demonstrated in some clinical trials to impair some children's behavior."


FDA Study on Artificial Colors:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/FoodAdvisoryCommittee/UCM273033.pdf

LOblaw, major food producers move away from artificial colouring
"Mounting public concern has spurred several major companies to remove dyes from some of their foods. Kraft has removed the artificial yellow dye from some of its signature mac and cheese products, and General Mills has removed dyes from Trix and Yoplait Go-Gurt."

Petition - M&M Candies   "I also found out that many families were using an “elimination diet” to isolate and remove harmful ingredients -- particularly artificial dyes. By removing dyes like those found in M&M's, they were able to delay, reduce, and sometimes eliminate the need for medication."

                     Happy Halloween!  

       Halloween can get a little tricky when your trying to stear clear of artificial colors, but I found some candy that won't even spook you!  It's called UNREAL and it stands up to it's name for sure.  The candy made by UNREAL is what they call - Unjunked.  No Artificial Colors, No Hydrogenateds, No Corn Syrups, No Preservatives, and No GMOs.  It has something unique as well - nutrition!  (5g of Fiber, 5g of Protein, 90mg of Sodium, 12g of Fat, and 17g of sugar, 200 Calories in a UNREAL Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat Bar)  What's more is that it tastes great!
      UNREAL has so many different candies to choose from.  They turned some of the classic candies into something deserving to give to your kids and you!  Don't be deceived by the nutrition label because it still tastes like candy.  I am not an advertiser for them or affiliated with them in any way.  They gave me some free candy to try and my family liked it so much that I'm returning the favor.  Thank You UNREAL for the box of candy and for making our Halloween a happy one!  

  
   http://getunreal.com/unreal-candy/?gclid=CO3JprivnbMCFQkFnQodHF8Aqg

Where is the Scientific Research linking Behavior to Red Dye 40???

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.  

Ban Artificial Synthetic Dyes in the United States

    Artificial Food Colorings are made of Petroleum.  Sounds good right?  Brightly colored foods and foods that wouldn't need artificial colors are being marketed to Americans in enormous amounts and certainly over the recommended limits set by the FDA - because collectively these dyes are found in so many items, bakery, pickles, drinks, foods, pharmaceuticals, shampoos, soaps, make-up and sprayed on fruits....etc.  Are they harmful?  You bet!  They have been known to cause hyperactivity, allergic reactions, migraines, stomach aches, depression, and even Cancer!   This is becoming common knowledge, yet the majority of companies refuse to use natural ingredients because it is not as profitable.   Companies like Whole Foods Market that have higher standards, refuse to sell products with artificial colors.
    America needs to step up and ban these artificial colors.  The United Kingdom has banned them after learning that artificial colors can cause hyperactivity in children.  Many other countries have banned them as well.  While profit and greed are the motivating factors for these artificial colors to remain in the U.S., we need to carefully read labels and buy foods that do not contain these harmful ingredients.  We can not rely on companies who label their products as nutritious to really care about our well being.  For example, Nestle' has just removed all artificial colors and ingredients from their confectionery ingredients from their UK products but have left all of the artificial stuff for the United States.  Why?  Because we are still buying their crap.  The only way a company is going to change is if they have high moral standards and regard for health, or their profit is diminishing and they see a trend.
    Our family hasn't bought foods with artificial colors since 2009 and we are able to always find alternatives.  Watch out for your health and your family's by buying foods that are dye-free.  Let's make a difference in America.

The following is a list of links about the latest News and Postings about Artificial Colors:    

Avoiding Artificial Food Dyes - Why and How?

It's Time To Say No To Artificial Food Dyes

Synthetic Food Dyes Raising Health Concerns Among Doctors and Parents

FDA Approved Food Coloring - What You Are Really Eating

Kids Health and Nutrition - Coles Bans Added MSG and Artificial Colors

Food Dyes and Your Health

Nestle' Removes All Artificial Ingredients from All Confectionery Ingredients in the UK

Do you need to find out if the food you are buying has artificial Colors in it?

    If you are looking for an easier way to find out if the food that you want to buy has artificial colors in it and would like to find alternative foods that have healthier ingredients, I recommend the Fooducate app.  With this app, you can scan the barcode of any food and find out what is really hiding in the ingredient list.  It gives each food a grade and a list of harmful ingredients (if any) that it contains.  For anyone who is new to avoiding artificial dyes, this app could be exactly what you need to make the right choices.  I am going to recommend this to everyone!  Way to go Fooducate!!!  Below is a link to their site and it shows what you will find on the new app.  If you have an iPod touch, iPad or an Android OS version 2.2 and up, you can find it in the app market place by the search term Fooducate.  It is also free at this time, so what are you waiting for?  Get on your phone and press download.  :)  

http://fooducate.com/index.html

Artificial Colors - It Doesn't Just Effect Children

    Children are not the only ones affected by red dye 40. Many adults never heard of or aren't willing to check into their diet to see if the things they are consuming are having an affect on them. I wonder how many marriages can be saved by people learning to stay away from the dyes that they are sensitive to. It can cause behavioral problems in adults. I believe that the best way to help our children is to find out more about ourselves. I realized that I was affected by red dye 40 as well. I would feel almost immediately irritable and I felt angry without a rational reason. People have the tendency to place blame on others for their behavior, but if you find yourself being excessively bothered by something that normally wouldn't effect you than it could be caused by consuming artificial colors - namely red dye 40. I would like to encourage people to look into their diet and see if there is a correlation between when they feel agitated, angry, or depressed and when they have consumed an artificial dye - red dye 40. If they are sensitive to it, then eliminating it would prove to be most beneficial in all aspects of their lives.

A Check List: Could my child be affected by artificial colors?

A Check List:  Could my child be affected by artificial colors? 
These are some symptoms that my child had due to artificial colors - mostly red dye 40.  If your child experiences any of these behaviors, you might want to try eliminating artificial colors.  Start with red dye 40.  I found a huge difference after removing this dye and the change was drastic and quick. 

• Acts aggressively from time to time
• Acts irrationally 
• Hits or kicks and has trouble calming down
• Time outs don't seem to work
• Disciplining doesn't seem to work
• Repeats bad behavior sporadically and you never know what might set him or her off
• Seems depressed
• Has low self-esteem
• Has poor motor coordination - poor handwriting, dysgraphia
• Child feels upset about how he or she acted and felt sad about feeling out of control
• Has increased hyper-activity
• Acts differently at birthday parties after eating artificially colored cake
• child has ADHD or ADD (children who have ADD or ADHD are more likely to become sensitive to artificial colors).  (some ADD or ADHD medications have artificial colors in them and you could ask for a dye-free alternative if your child uses prescription medication).

Parent Checklist

• Unable to discipline child
• Feeling like a bad parent
• Nothing you do seems to work
• Embarrassed by child's behavior
• Feeling like you need some answers

Join the conversation: Are you worried about artificial dyes?

    Welcome to Red Dye Free!  Recently, Moms Today lead a conversation about artificial dyes.  I encourage you to keep the conversation alive by clicking the following link:     http://moms.today.com/_news/2011/03/29/6369981-why-some-moms-have-banned-artificial-food-dyes-from-their-kids-diets
 
    I also encourage you to vote here:   http://moms.today.com/_question/2011/03/29/6371288-do-you-worry-about-artificial-dyes-in-food

    Your opinions matter.  The conversations in the comment section is very interesting!  Why don't you join us and let others know how you feel about this topic? 

Could what you eat cause behavioral problems?

    I got started doing this blog years ago after learning that red dye 40 was the cause of my child's most turbulent behavior.  Then, I realized that the artificial dye was affecting other members of my family, including me.  After witnessing a complete turn around in my son, I felt compelled to share what I learned.  I learned that artificial dyes can cause stomach aches, depression, hives, have an effect on IQ, cause motor-coordination problems and behavioral problems - to name a few.  Why should children or anyone else needlessly suffer because of consuming these harmful dyes.  Before having my children, I taught third grade.  I recall some of my students having the same dye-induced look that my child used to have after consuming red-dye 40.  I couldn't understand why their behavior was so irrational while other days they were calm, sweet children who were able to focus.  One child could sit in his desk calmly and was able to focus on his work and then after lunch he would be a completely different child.  He would lay on the floor, roam the room, cause problems with the other students.  Could what he had during lunch have caused a behavioral change?  Could the dyes make this much of a difference in their life?  I believe it can and so do many people who leave their comments of thanks for this blog.  For children and even adults who are sensitive to these dyes, it will transform their lives if they eliminate these dyes from their diet.  My child's self-esteem blossomed, has many friends, can focus, lost the dye-induced violent episodes, makes wonderful grades and is the sweet child I thought he was. 
    Please check out the two new videos I added from YouTube (in the right side column).  Also, please sign the petition to make healthier school lunches without artificial dyes.  You and everyone together can make a difference!
   

Do Fruits and Vegetables have Artificial Colors? Should you Be Concerned?

    I would like to share the following articles that I read yesterday about producers using artificial colors to enhance the colors of fruits and vegetables that I would like to share. 

http://www.NaturalNews.com/022870_artificial_colors_food.html

http://www.ehow.com/list_7631752_dyes-enhance-color-fruits-vegetables.html

    I have had many people ask me about artificial colors in fruits and vegetables and perhaps like you, I am curious to find out the truth.  There is always the possibility of faulty information on the Internet and so I encourage you to write to the FDA to discover the truth as well.  To me it sounds very counterproductive to eat fruits and vegetables if the very foods that you are consuming are laden with petro chemicals (artificial colors).  We already know that these artificial synthetic colors can cause changes in behavior and the latest news is that they can cause cancer, but what bothers me is how some producers try to enhance the look of fruits and vegetables to sell their product.  What I am curious about is do these producers who artificially color their produce with artificial colors have to label them as having added colors?  What is the regulation for this?  I am more encouraged more than ever to buy organic fruits and vegetables.  I want my apple to be an apple only - not a fake petro-chemically colored fake apple. 

Does Pizza have artificial colors?

     Domino's Pizza recently changed the taste of their pizza with their new garlic seasoning on the crust.  After eating the pizza with my family, I was feeling less patient and my boys were too.  In the morning I decided to check the ingredient listing and found that the new garlic seasoning has FD&C Yellow 5.  I decided to skip eating the leftovers for lunch.  You might be surprised that eating these artificial colors can have an effect on your mood.  I was at first, but after test after test for me the result was the same.  It can effect your mood if you are susceptible to it.

Check out this video about Red Dye 40 and Children: The Red Flag: Red 40

Natural Food Dyes are on the Rise

The food industry in America is changing. There is a rush to produce foods without the artificial synthetic food dyes. PTM Food Consulting is one company that can help independent franchises and others with their switch to natural food colors. Please see the following link: http://www.foodconsultant.biz/food-colors.htm
For anyone else wondering how to make natural food coloring from scratch, the article from this link might give you some great ideas.

The School Challenge!

The School Challenge!

Greetings to all Principals, Faculty, and members of the Food Services for School! I challenge all of you to create healthier food choices in your schools. The benefits will be great! Please take the time to look at these three links.
The first one is a slide show and has statistics to show how much each school improved after making only food changes in their schools. (Very Impressive!)
http://www.school-lunch.org/fairfax.html (#11 on my Links and Videos section)
The next one is information on How to Change a School's Food Program. http://www.school-lunch.org/schools/intro.html (see #10 on my Links and Videos section)
And this last one is titled, Matthew's Story and is about a little boy who experiences the effects that artificial dyes have on his behavior http://www.school-lunch.org/school.html (See #9 on My Links and Videos section).
This could be my child's story and a number of others as well. You have the chance to make a significant change in the lives of the children who are in your care. You might know a problem child who has always acted aggressively and defiant change into a sweet wonderful kid. You might notice how that child is now completing his work and is able to focus better than before. You might even see a smile where that dye-induced frown used to be. I challenge you to make a change - our children are counting on you. :)
Are you up for the challenge? I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment.