It’s Official: Artificial Food Additives Do Make Kids Hyper

By Anastacia Mott Austin

Parents, file this one under "D" for Duh. Food coloring makes kids hyper.

Those who have voiced concerns for the number of artificial ingredients and colorings in children’s food and drink products can feel vindicated this week. A study financed by Britain’s Food Standards Agency and published online this week in The Lancet has shown a significant link between those additives and children’s hyperactive behavior.

The study, led by psychology professor Jim Stevenson of the University of Southampton, involved two groups of children: 153 three-year-olds and 144 eight- and nine-year-olds. The control groups in each age category were given a placebo drink, while the others were given a drink containing a mixture of food additives, colorings, and preservatives, similar to what would be consumed in an average child’s day in snacks or drinks.

The six-week study revealed a significant increase in hyperactive behavior and lowered concentration in the groups of kids who’d consumed the additive concoction. The children who had consumed the additives were unable to concentrate on one toy (in the younger group) or finish a 15-minute computer exercise (in the older group). In addition, the kids with the additives showed a marked increase in atypically impulsive behavior.

"A mix of additives commonly found in children’s food increases the mean level of hyperactivity," wrote the study’s authors. "The finding lends strong support for the case that food additives exacerbate hyperactive behaviors (inattention, impulsivity and overactivity) at least into middle childhood."

The FSA issued a recommendation along with the study’s release for parents to monitor more closely any foods or drinks their children are consuming which contain artificial ingredients, but stopped short of issuing an official warning about the products or requiring any change in food labeling.

"Parents of children showing signs of hyperactivity are being advised that cutting out certain artificial food colors from their diets might have some beneficial effects on their behavior," states the FSA’s official website. "However, we need to remember that there are many factors associated with hyperactive behavior in children. These are thought to include genetic factors, being born prematurely, or environment and upbringing," added Dr. Andrew Wadge of the FSA.

Other scientists and pediatricians cautioned that removing additives from a child’s life might cause some damaging social stigma. "Even if it shows some increase in hyperactivity, is it clinically significant, and does it impact the child’s life?" asked Dr. Thomas Spencer, a pediatric psychopharmacologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Spencer told The New York Times, "Is it powerful enough that you want to ostracize your kid? It is very socially impacting if children can’t eat the things that their friends do."

Can’t you hear it now? "But mom," whines your cherubic angel. "All the other kids are eating sodium benzoate, tartrazine and ponceau 4R! No fair!"

That’s why we’re called the parents.

The more important question is this: where did the lab scientists send the additive-addled laboratory children to live for six weeks while they were artificially amping them up?