Multiple studies confirm overactive symptoms linked to food colors and preservatives

The Food Standards Agency in Britain, issued a warning to parents on September 28 2007. Their news section states "...research, carried out by Southampton University, suggests that eating or drinking certain mixes of some artificial food colours, together with the preservative sodium benzoate, could be linked to hyperactivity in some children.

American medical news source Med Page Today.com tried to downplay the significance of this new warning by telling doctors the overactive symptoms observed were small.

But this American website either is ignoring or just lame by not reporting what the BBC has reported multiple times. The research looking at a link between food colors, preservatives and poor behavior in children has been ongoing for several years in the UK.

This latest study was one of the most tightly controlled ever completed. The changes observed were still significant and should not be glossed over.

For the American medical website to lessen the significance of this study is poor judgement. One should not forget that studies on SSRI antidepressants were approved with showing a 2 point improvement (out of 26) of change on a questionnaire the researching psychiatrist filled out regarding his opinion of the patient's behavior.

The FDA has issued major label changes for ADHD drugs so parents can be warned about those drugs causing psychiatric mania, stroke, heart attacks and sudden death

If you have your child on drugs for overactive behavior. You might want to try an elimination diet and avoid preservatives and food colorings. You should go see your doctor or a competent physician who conduct a comprehensive evaluation. If your child needs to be withdrawn from his prescriptions, it must be medically supervised and conducted over time to minimize any adverse withdrawal effects.

Never go off any psychiatric drug "cold turkey" and without medical supervision. It could be life-threatening.

A news article appeared in the BBC on 5 May, 2004, 00:05 GMT 01:05 UK

'Ban artificial food colourings'

Artificial colourings increased hyperactivity levels Artificial food colourings should be banned in the interest of public health, say UK experts. A team of researchers from Southampton University said removing these substances from foods could cut hyperactivity rates in young children. They are extending their research to see whether additive-free diets have a positive effect in older children too. The research on 300 three-year-olds appears in the journal Archives of Diseases in Childhood.