Food dyes or food colourings are chemicals that are added to processed foods such as condiments and soda pop drinks to improve the food's appearance.
Food manufactures add food dye for the following reasons:- - Adds color to colourless foods - Enhances the colours - To avoid the colour fading due to environmental factors - To provide a level of consistency in the food All food dyes are regulated by the FDA to ensure that they are safe for human consumption.
This also helps with labelling so that consumers know what they are eating and once the food colouring is approved by the FDA, they will determine the use of that dye as an additive.
Studies have shown that many children who are suffering from ADHD are sensitive to today's food colourings and many of these children have reacted to these food additives with hyperactivity, so there is a definite link between food dye and ADHD.
The Western diet has now been linked to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with children now consuming more sugar than ever before and becoming more energetic, more out of control and showing more behavioural changes.
With many of today's foods now being artificially processed and consisting of food colourings, preservatives and other chemical ingredients, it's no wonder today's children are hyperactive.
A test on food additives was carried out on children with ADHD and those also suffering from allergies on the following:- - Sunset yellow (E10) - Quinoline Yellow (E104) - Carmoisine (E122) - Allura Red (E129) - Tartrazine (E102) - Ponceau 4R (E124) - Ponceau 4R (E124) - Sodium Benzonate (E211) - a preservative Most experts believe that food dyes do cause a considerable reaction to children that are suffering from allergies, as well as ADHD, while others may argue that not every child will react to food additives.
When two recent studies were released in 2004 and 2007 respectively they singled out food dyes as being potentially harmful in the ADHD diet.
In conclusion, children that are already suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are more likely to show signs of behavioural problems from food colourings and preservatives than those that aren't.