Artificial food dyes may cause behavior problems. A bill aims to warn parents.
The rules in the Snow family household were simple. If Emily Snow’s first grader, Evan, made it through the evening without kicking, biting or hitting, he could have his favorite treat: three pieces of chewy red candy.
But Evan rarely got his prize.
“He was volatile from morning to night,” Snow, of Roy, Utah, said. “We were always on eggshells, never knowing when a violent explosion was going to come.”
Evan was on two psychiatric medications for his aggression, Snow said. He had been in weekly therapy since kindergarten.
It was in October 2020, when Evan was in second grade, that a relative suggested the Snows cut out artificial food dyes — which had been in Evan’s nightly reward, as well as many of the fruit snacks, chips and drinks that he consumed.
The dietary change did what thousands of dollars in neuropsychological testing, psychiatry appointments and therapy had not been able to do, Snow said. Within four weeks, Evan was a calmer, happier child.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/artificial-food-dyes-may-cause-behavior-problems-bill-aims-warn-parent-rcna5989
_______________________________________________________________________
I have mixed feelings about this, having tried it on my own child some years back with pretty inconclusive results. Maybe it works for some kids. In any case, that stuff doesn't need to be in the food supply.
= new reply since forum marked as read
