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Forget Sugar; That Dye Can't Be Good for You
Weighing link to kids' hyperactivity, FDA mulls ban on artificial colors
By Jess Kilby
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Posted Oct 13, 08 6:43 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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The FDA is weighing a ban on a handful of artificial food dyes in the face of mounting evidence that some of the chemical compounds trigger hyperactivity in children, reports the Los Angeles Times. "The safety testing on these [dyes] was done 30 to 50 years ago," says one activist. "The tests are out of date and we have higher standards now that would show positive evidence of harm."
The potential link between synthetic food coloring and out-of-control kids became a hot topic in the 1970s, but experts say the issue faded after a series of poorly designed studies failed to offer solid proof. Several studies in the past decade make a strong argument for the connection, though, and the UK and Europe have recently taken steps to get the dyes out of their markets.