As a parent of (periodically unhinged) twin 2-year old boys, I feel morally compelled to publicize the following:

Research conducted by the University of Southampton in England has produced some fairly compelling evidence that combinations of six artificial food colorings appear to cause noticeable increases in hyperactivity and decreases in attention span. The good news is that three of these food additives are currently NOT approved for use in the United States. The bad news… well, the other three may be lurking in your fridge and pantry.

The study, which lasted six weeks, tested the effects of drinks containing a mix of artificial food coloring and sodium benzoate on 297 children. During the study, teachers and parents were asked to evaluate the children’s hyperactivity and inattention with help of a computer test. Researchers found that children given the drinks with additives scored noticeably higher for hyperactivity and lower for attention span.

Two mixes of artificial colors were used in the study. Mix A replicated the food colors and preservatives used in a previous study and consisted of:

Sunset yellow (E110), Tartrazine (E102), Carmoisine (E122), Ponceau 4R (E124), Sodium benzoate (E211)

Mix B consisted of:

Sunset yellow (E110), Quinoline yellow (E104), Carmoisine (E122), Allura red (E129), Sodium benzoate (E211)

Most of the news reports about this research have implicated sodium benzoate as one of the causes of hyperactive behavior. However, the FSE was careful to note the following: “Sodium benzoate was included in both mixes, but the effects observed were not consistent. The Agency therefore considers that, if real, the observed increases in hyperactive behaviour were more likely to be linked to one or more of the specific colours tested.” So, the study’s authors feel that the results do not implicate sodium benzoate. On the other hand, sodium benzoate has been decried by food safety advocates for having a tendency to turn into the carcinogen benzene when in the presence of citric acid (a pretty common occurence, since sodium benzoate is used as a preservative in fruit juice and sodas!) So, you still might want to avoid the stuff.

You may already be aware that a link between food coloring and preservatives and ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) has long been a rallying-cry for the organic food movement. This link has been typically downplayed by “mainstream” science as being unsupported by research. The FDA has, on occasion, “delisted” food colorings and additives that have been shown to have negative health consequences. For example, FD&C Red No. 2 was banned in 1976 for being a suspected carcinogen. Since most food colorings are derived from petroleum or coal tar (!), testing them for being carcinogenic appears to be the main qualification demanded by the FDA for certifying them as “safe.”

The current study was sponsored by the The Food Standards Agency, an independent British agency set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public’s health and consumer interests in relation to food. While not proving that these substances cause ADHD, this new study does provide fairly compelling evidence that these food additives can cause noticeable and negative behavioral effects.

The additives to avoid in the United States are:

Sunset Yellow (E11): Currently approved for use by the FDA as FD&C Yellow No.6. Commonly used in fruity drinks, cereals, baked goods, snack foods, ice cream, beverages, dessert powders, confections and cheese sauce mix (check that instant cheesey-mac, mom!)

Tartrazine (E102): Currently approved for use by the FDA as FD&C Yellow #5. Commonly used in soft drinks, instant puddings, flavored chips (Doritos, etc), cake mixes, custard powder, soups, sauces, kool-aid, ice cream, freezer pops, candy, chewing gum, marzipan, jam, jelly, marmalade, mustard, horseradish, yogurt, noodles, pickles and other pickled products and many convenience foods together with glycerin, lemon and honey products.

Allura Red AC (E129): Currently certified as FD&C Red #40. Commonly used in candies and sodas. It is interesting to note that this coloring is banned in Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and Austria but approved for use in food by the European Union. A classic case of “state” versus “federal” laws.

The other three additives to watch out for when/if you are outside the US are:

Carmoisine (E122): Red food coloring sometimes used in jams (formerly FD&C Red #2, currently NOT approved by the FDA)

Ponceau 4R (E124): Red food coloring (Formerly FD&C Red #8, currently NOT approved by the FDA)

Quinoline Yellow (E104): Never approved by the FDA for use in food.

Additonal Reading:

Original Research Article “Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial” in The Lancet: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com.libproxy.usc.edu/retrieve/pii/S0140673607613063

Stuff the FDA doesn’t want you to eat: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/cp03803.html

Artificial Color Facts and Guidelins from the FDA: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/colorfac.html

More about Food Colors from the FDA: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/col-toc.html

Food Standards Agency Advice on Food Colors: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/2007/sep/colours