Link Between Food Colorings/Additives and Hyperactivity Has Been Proven

Even though for a number of years many parents with children who are affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been excluding foods which contain such ingredients from their child's diet as a precaution, the practice has until now had little scientific basis.

But now researchers from the University of Southampton in a study sponsored by the British Food Agency, have systematically established for the first time the connection between the two.

The study which was led by psychology Professor Dr. Jim Stevenson, provides clear evidence that mixtures of certain food colours and benzoate preservative can adversely influence the behaviour of children.

For the study the researchers distributed drinks for a six week period, containing preservatives and colours similar to those mixed in common commercial drinks to a group of 153 three year old children and 144 eight and nine year-olds who had been selected at random.

The children were given two types of drinks with food additives commonly found in sweets, beverages, and other foods, and then a placebo drink (one with no additives).

One mix had artificial colorings, including sunset yellow (also called E110), carmoisine (E122), tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124), and the preservative sodium benzoate.

Another 'cocktail' included the current average daily consumption of food additives by the two age ranges of children and included quinoline yellow (E104), allura red (E129), sunset yellow, carmoisine and sodium benzoate.

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