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. 

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.

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.