I recently got a comment from someone who was very unhappy about not showing enough scientific research to educate people about the harmful nature of synthetic dyes and the harmful effects on behavior. Here is the comment I received, ...
"I hope everyone realizes that testimonials are NOT SCIENCE. Those these stories are touching, they do not prove Red 40 caused anything. I'm interested in the science. Are there peer reviewed scientific papers that link Red 40 to behavioural issues. If so, please post so that I may learn something and take actions if necessary. If not, then all this testimonial stuff is pure junk. DO NOT TAKE MEDICAL/NUTRITIONAL ADVICE FROM TESTOMINIALS. USE SCIENCE!!!I hope everyone realizes that testimonials are NOT SCIENCE. Those these stories are touching, they do not prove Red 40 caused anything. I'm interested in the science. Are there peer reviewed scientific papers that link Red 40 to behavioural issues. If so, please post so that I may learn something and take actions if necessary. If not, then all this testimonial stuff is pure junk. DO NOT TAKE MEDICAL/NUTRITIONAL ADVICE FROM TESTOMINIALS. USE SCIENCE!!!"So, in my attempt to include some scientific evidence I wrote the following comments:
"The New York Times published an article in September 2007, reporting on a study published in the Lancet and funded by Britain's Food Standards Agency that had “conclusively and scientifically confirmed a link between food additives and hyperactivity.”
Read more: http://technorati.com/women/article/artificial-colors-linked-to-behavioral-problems/#ixzz1qQdyhlBY
Here is a little more on that: http://blog.advantig.net/2009/10/why-advantig-products-dont-contain-artificial-colors-preservatives/
"Despite concerns with the British study, European lawmakers now require a warning label on foods that contain artificial dyes. It lets parents know their kids might become hyperactive if they consume the product." http://www.npr.org/2011/03/30/134962888/fda-probes-link-between-food-dyes-kids-behavior
"Some of the studies are difficult or imperfect. ... But there is this body of literature that does suggest that food colorings are not as benign as people have been led to believe."
- Andrew Adesman, developmental and behavioral pediatrics expert
Here is more information and maybe more than you would like to read...
http://nah.sagepub.com/content/3/3/137.full.pdf+html
As you can see the scientific research on this subject has left many people uneasy on this subject. While we wait for the scientific research to formulate a very valid study, we are not going to idly sit by and watch our children (those who are sensitive to the dyes) become affected by these artificial colors. Removing the dyes from our child's diet proved a direct correlation to behavioral changes after consuming the artificial coloring (namely red dye 40 for our son).
"Research on pediatric behaviors can be difficult and expensive to conduct since it often involves regular and subjective assessments of children by parents and teachers who should be kept in the dark about the specifics of the test. And since the patents on the dyes expired long ago, manufacturers have little incentive to finance such research themselves." By GARDINER HARRIS
Published: March 29, 2011 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/health/policy/30fda.html
Today, after more research, I found this......
[PPT] Food Dyes & Behavior
What angers me most about the harmful nature of artificial colors is the lack of scientific research. While we wait for the scientific community to catch up, I plan to take action and buy products that do not contain these synthetic dyes. After all, scientifically would anyone think that consuming petroleum products are beneficial? What is the recommended limit of consuming these dyes? Well, it's in virtually everything that can be produced these days so whether you are aware of it or not the American population is consuming more than the recommended limit.
This comment gets off with me. Thank you for providing this person with information. It is not pure junk when I look at my child and see what red or any food dye does to her. I am sure any parent dealing with this feels the same way.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link "Selection of Studies Supporting Diet Therapy"
ReplyDelete: http://www.feingold.org/Research/dye.html
Thank you for posting. My son is 2 and we are becoming aware that his behavior is worse than "normal". I am just starting my research on the food dye corelation and this post was very helpful. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome and thanks for the comment! Every time someone thanks me, I think about the time when I first learned about food dye and what a difference it has made in our lives since we found out. I hope you share the information to help out others who are going through what you experience with your son. It's not fair for any child to have to go through this. :(
DeleteI recently found your blog after discovering my daughters reactions to red dye 40. Like the above comment, I don't need science to prove the change that has occurred for my daughter. And truthfully, I would never put her in a study to show how she reacts with it in her system - it is never going in her system with my knowledge again! I appreciate you advocating for the cause and studies or not, there is truth for some children that is life changing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Erika! I wouldn't put my child in a study either! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this blog. My daughter started throwing out of control, violent tantrums that occurred out of no where over nothing. She would be out of control for 1-3 hours. I read about red dye and started journal her food and behavior and noticed her behavior was ALWAYS worse 1-3 days after consuming red dye. We have cut it out completely for two weeks do far and not 1 tantrum of that degree has occurred! Coincedence? Maybe- but I don't think so. Thanks for all your info!
ReplyDeleteI just found out that my oldest son is allergic to red dye. Some people just do not relize how much red dye is in alot of the food that you eat everyday. I can tell you this. I do not want to go through that again with my son. It scared me and I was almost in tears because I did not really know what was going on with him until I took him to the doctor. I decided to put everyone in the house on a no red dye diet. I can already tell a change in both of my sons. I am just learning about all the red dye things. So if anyone has any suggestions just let me know.
ReplyDeleteIt affects adults to. I was diagnosed with the red dye allergy 2 years ago. I hope I live to see the day where it id banned from the US.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree although I have a teacher telling me it could take months to see a difference? What? Really? If you take red dye out and it causes your child to have no violent outbursts for a week, I would say there is something to it. Our son ate something yesterday with the dyes (I wasn't here so it happened under the supervision of a sitter) and now today he's sick.
ReplyDeleteConnection? Maybe but with the improved behavior I'm saying there's a connection. I've been told since he's 10 almost 11, it's most likely a change in hormones and not the fact the dyes were removed.
Do people really look that hard to find reasons why removing these toxic poisons isn't helpful?
It's frustrating as a parent of a child who has had behavioral issues for years and each time you find something that may help to be told it's not science or another doctor said that "it would take months for a change to occur after removing dyes". I don't hold a lot of faith in many medical professionals after it took them more than 6 1/2 years to dx Celiac in a child.
If Americans weren't so persnickety about the way their food has to look before they would eat it, we would ban these poisons like many other countries already have.
Sorry to sound so negative, but I am really just tired of everyone acting like I'm a freak because I don't want my child to eat poison.
I understand how you feel. I wish people were more understanding and not so judgmental at times.
DeleteI removed red dye from my daughters diet and she behaved better at first, but now seems to revert back to her "active" self. I still don't buy food with red dye in it because I got used to not buying that junk. She eats apples and cheese instead of poptarts and koolaid. Some parents get mad when you suggest that doritos may not be good for your kid. I will continue to give my hyper child dye-free food without scientific evidence.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Ive come across your site! My son has been diagnosed with ADHD and I've noticed his behavior is getting worse. Instead of medicating my child Iam DETERMIND to change his diet and help him that way! I've noticed any foods with red dye 40 really trigger his behavior problems. Thank you, Thank you for your wonderful blog!!
ReplyDelete