Parents whose children show signs of hyperactivity may find that cutting certain artificial food colourings from their diet may lead to an improvement in their behaviour.

This latest piece of advice on food colourings from the UK's Food Standards Agency is based on research which shows that for some children, certain mixtures of artificial food colourings taken together with the commonly used preservative sodium benzoate appears to have a negative effect on their behaviour. The study was carried out by researchers at Southampton University.

'This study is a helpful additional contribution to our knowledge of the possible effects of artificial food colours on children's behaviour,' commented Dr Andrew Wadge, the FSA's Chief Scientist. 'After considering the COT's [Committee on Toxicity] opinion on the research findings we have revised our advice to consumers: if a child shows signs of hyperactivity or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) then eliminating the colours used in the Southampton study from their diet might have some beneficial effects.'

Dr Wadge reminded parents that by law, all food additives must be listed on the label.

The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to look into the findings. On the basis of the EFSA's opinion, the Commission will decide whether further measures are necessary for the additives studied. The EFSA is currently carrying out an extensive re-evaluation of all authorised additives, starting with food colourings, to ensure that their safety assessment is still valid in the light of the latest scientific information.

In the study, scientists gave three year olds and eight to nine year olds a mixture of natural fruit juices every day for six weeks. Some children received drinks with no artificial colourings added, while others received drinks which contained a mixture of additives often found in sweets and soft drinks. These include the colourings sunset yellow (E110), quinoline yellow (E104), carmoisine (E122) and allura red (E129) and the food preservative sodium benzoate (E211).

The children's behaviour was monitored by researchers as well as teachers and parents. Neither the children nor those monitoring their behaviour knew whether they had been given drinks containing the additives or a placebo. Parents of the children were asked to remove any other sources of the additives concerned from their diets during the study.

'This has been a major study investigating an important area of research,' said Professor Jim Stevenson of Southampton University, one of the report's authors. 'The results suggest that consumption of certain mixtures of artificial food colours and sodium benzoate preservative are associated with increases in hyperactive behaviour in children.'

However both the researchers and the FSA warned parents that they should not believe that cutting these additives from the diet would automatically prevent hyperactive behaviours.
'We need to remember that there are many factors associated with hyperactive behaviour in children,' said Dr Wadge. 'These are thought to include genetic factors, being born prematurely, or environment and upbringing.'

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

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