Fact Sheet: The Science Linking Food Dyes with Impacts on Children’s Behavior

A possible link between food ingredients and adverse behaviors such as hyperactivity was first raised in the 1970s. Over the past 40 years, many double-blind studies have concluded that food dyes and other ingredients can impair behavior in some children.

Healthy cereals for kids with no food dyes

The cereal aisle is full of brightly colored boxes and flashy marketing…and many kids are full of opinions. Here are 7 tips to help you wade through your supermarket’s sea of cereal boxes together and choose a winner that’s rich in whole grains, not too sugary, free of food dyes, and kid friendly. We've included a list of more than two dozen healthy cereals for kids that fit the bill.

Thaumatin

Tagatose

The New York Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act

The Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act (A1556C/S1239C): • Requires food companies to publicly disclose safety evidence for “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) food chemicals. • Prohibits the sale of food containing Red 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben—chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive toxicity—statewide.

FDA asked companies to cut food dyes. Is it enough?

Food companies broke their promises to ditch dyes before. Now, a vague “understanding” with the FDA leaves room for them to do it again.

Kennedy, HHS have no “agreement” with industry to eliminate food dyes; only an “understanding”

FDA signals intent to phase out synthetic dyes from food supply

RFK's cuts to FDA are a threat to public health and safety

Red 3: FDA finally bans cancer-causing food dye

34 years after banning Red 3 from cosmetics and topical drugs, the FDA has finally moved to remove the carcinogenic additive from food, drugs, and supplements.