The FDA just released a report on the potential connection between color additives in food and hyperactivity (ADHD) in children. This is not necessarily a new story, but it has been getting attention and was highlighted yesterday in the NYT.
I think the concluding remarks in the FDA report are interesting and bear repeating here:
“Based on our review of the data from published literature, FDA concludes that a causal relationship between exposure to color additives and hyperactivity in children in the general population has not been established. For certain susceptible children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and other problem behaviors, however, the data suggest that their condition may be exacerbated by exposure to a number of substances in food, including, but not limited to, synthetic color additives. Findings from relevant clinical trials indicate that the effects on their behavior appear to be due to a unique intolerance to these substances and not to any inherent neurotoxic properties.” (Italics added)
So, I think this raises at least two important issues:
First, might it simply be the case that products that tend to contain more synthetic colors and additives (think Jell-O, Froot Loops, Cheetos, etc., etc.) also contain a lot more sugar and other junk that we shouldn’t be eating? That is to say, that the “number of other substances in food” to which the FDA refers might actually be the high amounts of (gasp) sugars or grains?
Second, there seems to a whole host of interesting questions that can be raised regarding how ingredients or additives (e.g., colors, preservatives, gluten, etc.) might differentially impact a subset of the population or a susceptible group of individuals. Are these things bad for everyone? Are they only bad for some people? Does it just depend on the dose? If any of those answers are yes, we can also begin to think about what the regulatory or policy implications should be.
Food for thought… (sans additives of course)