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For decades, researchers have been trying to answer a hotly contested question: Do the synthetic dyes used to add vibrant colors to foods like certain breakfast cereals, candies, snacks and baked goods cause behavioral issues in children?

A bill before the California Senate, which is expected to come to a vote this week, has reignited the debate. If passed, it would prohibit K-12 public schools in California from offering foods containing six dyes — Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6 and Red No. 40.

In 2011, an F.D.A. committee considered requiring similar labels in the United States, but concluded that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove that food dyes caused hyperactivity. It voted against the warnings and recommended more research, yet few studies have been done in the years since, said Dr. Arnold, who summarized the existing research at the 2011 meeting.

In 2021, state scientists from California published a report that put a new spotlight on food dyes. The team, alongside researchers from the University of California, reviewed 27 mostly small trials in children. The conclusion: Food dyes can interfere with normal behavior in at least some kids.

Emily Barrett, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health who peer-reviewed the report, said that it was “fair, unbiased and very thorough.”

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(Source: New York Times – August 26, 2024)