Artificial Food Coloring and Hyperactivity

I always try to make eating and food fun for picky eaters. So I would ask them “how do you make green pancakes?”

100% of the time, the answer I get is “food coloring”, when the answer that I expected was “spinach, broccoli, kale, bell pepper” or any other “natural green food”.  

But, no, I get “food coloring”. 

Do you know what this means? 

Artificial food coloring is everywhere, and it is very well ingrained into our lives that even little kids know about it and what it’s for. 

And the crazy thing is that food manufacturers even tell us right there on the ingredient label that the food contains artificial food colorings (or “artificial flavorings”)…but most consumers don’t seem to be bothered by it.

The 15 million pounds of food dye used in the U.S. per year (5 times more than in 1955) is in much more than just colorful icing or candies these days. 

Food dyes are turning up in almost every packaged food including Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Minute Maid Lemonade, Lunchables, Fruit Roll-Ups, Cheetos, and even “Light and Fit” Yoplait Yogurt. 

What is artificial food coloring?

First of all, let’s see if artificial food coloring even meets the criteria of food. 

Definition of FOOD from Mr. Webster Dictionary: 

FOOD: material consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, and fat used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy

also: such food together with supplementary substances (such as minerals, vitamins, and condiments)

Artificial food coloring does not have protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, or vitamins. And it does not sustain growth, repair, or vital processes. 

Artificial food colorings are made from coal tar or petroleum, a crude oil product, which also happens to be used in gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt, and tar. and approved for use by the FDA to enhance the color of processed foods.

These food colorings have no purpose whatsoever other than to sell junk food to little kids.

These chemicals are added to food to pretend there is real food, and to increase the appeal of the cheap low-nutrition products to children.

Kraft’s Guacamole Dip gets its greenish color not from avocados (there are almost none) but from Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1. 

The blue bits in Aunt Jemima Blueberry Waffles that you think are blueberries are not blueberries. They’re fake blueberries from Red 40 and Blue 2.

These colorful junk foods distract kids away from nutritious foods and toward junk food that is high in calories but low in nutrients, such as fruit-flavored drinks and snack foods, which are major causes of the obesity epidemic in the United States.

The fruity colors of General Mills’ Fruit Roll-ups and Fruit-by-the-Foot flavored snacks come from Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40, and Blue 1. 

General Mills’ Fruity Cheerios, Lucky Charms, and Trix all contain problematic food dyes, and so do Kellogg’s Froot Loops and Apple Jacks, and Post’s Fruity Pebbles.

Even foods that aren’t particularly brightly colored contain food dyes. 

Betty Crocker’s Au Gratin “100% Real” Potatoes are only partly real, as it is colored with Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. 

The United States vs Europe

In the United States, you commonly see artificial food coloring in processed food and beverages…but did you know many of these artificial food colorings that our children are consuming every day are banned in many parts of Europe?

Out of the six food colorings banned in Europe, four are still currently approved for use by the FDA in the United States.

This is why when you eat a Nutri-Grain strawberry cereal bar in the United States, it will contain Red 40, Yellow 6, and Blue 1. But that same bar in the UK contains only the natural food colorings from beetroot red, annatto, and paprika extract.

The UK branches of Wal-Mart, Kraft, Coca-Cola, and Mars have removed artificial colors, sodium benzoate, and aspartame from their product lines because of consumer demand and government regulations.

Companies, like Pepsi, Kraft, and General Mills, also have switched to natural food colorings in their products in the U.K., where warning labels are required.

The American varieties of Kraft’s Oscar Meyer Lunchables kids’ meals contain artificial food dyes, but not in the British versions.

Starburst Chews, Skittles, and M&M candies contain the full spectrum of artificial colors in the U.S., but not in the U.K., where the company uses natural colorings. 

The color in McDonald’s strawberry sauce for sundaes actually comes from real strawberries in Great Britain, but in the U.S. it comes from Red 40.

But in the US, they’re not doing the same because there is no pressure to do so, and switching would cost a lot of money.

In a recent statement, FDA admitted: “For certain susceptible children with ADHD and other problem behaviors, the data suggest their condition may be exacerbated” by substances in food, such as artificial food colorings.

 

Is Artificial Food Coloring Safe

Artificial food colorings have been suspected of causing disturbing behaviors in children since the 1970s. 

Dr. Benjamin Feingold, a San Francisco allergist, started noticing that his patients’ hyperactivity and inattention improved when food coloring and other food additives were removed from their diets. 

A meta-analysis of the medical literature in 2004 concluded that artificial food dyes affect children’s behaviors, and two recent studies funded by the British government found that food dyes, as well as the preservative sodium benzoate, adversely affect kids’ behavior. 

Unlike most previous studies, these British studies tested children in the general population, not children whose parents suspected they were sensitive to dyes. As a result, the British government is successfully pressuring food manufacturers to switch to safer colorings.

Numerous controlled studies conducted over three decades in the United States, Europe, and Australia proved that some children’s behavior is worsened by artificial food dyes.

The European Union (EU) began requiring products that contain artificial food coloring to have warning labels that state “consumption may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

Out of the six food colorings banned in Europe, four are still currently approved for use by the FDA in the United States.

They are Sunset yellow (E110) (FD&C; Yellow #6), Carmoisine (E122) (FD&C; Red #3), Tartrazine (E102) (FD&C; Yellow #5) and Allura Red (E129) (FD&C; Red #40).

Outside of the U.S. food manufacturers would rather do away with the artificial dye than have to put a warning label on their products.

This is why when you eat a Nutri-Grain strawberry cereal bar in the United States, it will contain Red 40, Yellow 6 and Blue 1. But that same bar in the UK contains only the natural food colorings from beetroot red, annatto and paprika extract. 

The UK branches of Wal-Mart, Kraft, Coca-Cola and Mars have removed artificial colors, sodium benzoate and aspartame from their product lines because of consumer demand and government regulations. 

Companies, like Pepsi, Kraft and General Mills, also have switched to natural food colorings in their products in the U.K., where warning labels are required. 

But in the US, they’re not doing the same because there are no pressure to do so, and switching would cost a lot of money.

The food industry has known about this problem for 30 years, but only  few companies choose to do the right thing and use safer ingredients. This is because in the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to allow these toxic ingredients to be used in popular foods, including those marketed directly to children.

Even though Europe has a strong stance on food colorings and many clinical evidence showing the increased risk in children, the FDA continues to support the idea that “there is not enough evidence” and has been reluctant to address the issue until now.

In a recent statement, FDA admitted: “For certain susceptible children with ADHD and other problem behaviors, the data suggest their condition may be exacerbated” by substances in food, such as artificial food colorings.

There are a few companies taking the lead in the United States. 

Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s have pledged not to sell products with artificial food colorings. 

Everything with a Trader Joe’s label and all products at Whole Foods are free of the controversial chemicals.

Starbucks doesn’t allow food dyes in its beverages or pastries.

Arm Yourself with Knowledge. 

Learn to read the ingredient labels on food and beverage containers and avoid these 9 harmful artificial food colorings. 

Harmful Food Coloring to Avoid

Erythrosine (Red #3)

Allura Red AC (E129) (FD&C Red #40, Red 40) 

Ponceau S (E124, Acid Red 112)

Carmoisine (E122, Acid Red 14)

Sunset yellow (E110) (FD&C; Yellow #6)

Tartrazine (E102) (FD&C; Yellow #5)

Quinoline yellow (E104) – Yellow coloring

Brilliant Blue (FD & C Blue #1).

Fast Green (FD&C Green #3, Green 1724)

Don’t forget about medications. Food dyes are often found in medications as well, like children’s liquid medications or dissolvable.

 

Best Natural Food Color to Use

Have you ever see those vibrant colored smoothie bowls and macaroon cookies on Instagram and Pinterest and wonder how they get that vibrant color?

This is it!

Those vibrant food colors come from natural “superfood” powder.

You can do this naturally at home with beet roots, cranberries, turmeric to color your food. Or you can use these natural food coloring powder for convenience.

And because these comes in a powder form, you can achieve that vibrant color better than making your own beet root juice at home.

You’re not only giving your smoothies and dessert their attention they deserve, but also the additional antioxidants from the super food.

Knowing that you’re using the clean and healthy ingredients in your food is all it counts.

Ok, there you have it…

I hope you find this information helpful. Let me know what you think and comment below. 

Remember ADHD does not doom your child to a life of under-achievement. You know your child is bright, full of potential, and deserves the best. In fact, many of the world’s greatest discoveries and inventions were made by people with ADHD.

I helped my crazy wild child who couldn’t read or write when she was little overcome her learning difficulties, and become a merit scholarship student majoring in premed at Loyola Chicago University.

So don’t give up, everything is possible. 

If you’re just starting out on this natural ADHD treatment journey and still in the research phase, check out my new book Eat to Focus.

Inside this book, you’ll learn why your ADHD child is always hungry, why he or she seems addicted to milk and bread, the reason why most ADHD treatments do not work, and the exact four strategies I’ve used for my daughter to help her calm down to focus and finally learn normally. 

 

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Anna

Clean Eating Officer (CEO) at Malama Wellness + Hypnotherapy
I'm Anna, a passionate dietitian and hypnotherapist dedicated to helping parents of kids with ADHD unlock the transformative potential of healthy eating and holistic approaches. With years of experience in pediatric nutrition and a focus on mind-body connection, I provide personalized guidance and practical tools to support positive behavioral changes and nurture your child's well-being.
I'm Anna, a passionate dietitian and hypnotherapist dedicated to helping parents of kids with ADHD unlock the transformative potential of healthy eating and holistic approaches. With years of experience in pediatric nutrition and a focus on mind-body connection, I provide personalized guidance and practical tools to support positive behavioral changes and nurture your child's well-being.

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