Now the FDA will review the committee’s recommendations to decide further action. It remains unclear how many kids fall under the class of “certain susceptible children” and whether the FDA would continue to ignore such kids, who are exceptions to a major section of children unaffected by artificial dyes. Public health advocates believe that though dyes are not directly the underlying cause of hyperactivity, these do affect some children, which is enough of a cause to ban the additives.

Disappointed at the meeting’s conclusion, Michael Jacobson, the director of Center for Science in the Public Interest, criticized the panel for looking for “perfect scientific evidence” of the link between artificial dyes and colors and hyperactivity in kids. However, he said he was happy to note that the FDA gave recognition to the fact that it is a serious issue and accepted to conduct a review panel. Jacobson seeks warnings on food package labels so that parents can decide whether they would opt for buying that particular product for their kids knowing their possible side effects.

Parents who testified at the hearing affirmed that there is a causative link between food dyes and their kids’ behavior. They even brought along improved report cards of their kids, which affirmed that they had improved considerably after food dyes had been eliminated from their diet, saying that their decision to discontinue use of dyes had proved to be “life changing” for their kids. They urged the panel to recommend warning labels on food products so that parents know there might be a problem.

Consumer groups now ask how many more years does the FDA need in order to secure the required data on accurate numbers of kids affected by hypersensitivity, linked to food dyes. They argue that it is wrong to continue risking public health when some kind of link exists between food coloring and hyperactivity for some kids.

A 2007 Southampton study showed that artificial food dyes cause hypersensitivity in 3, 8, and 9 year olds, especially after taking drinks including food dyes and sodium benzoate. This study spurred European authorities to issue directives to food manufacturers to include warning on food packages that contain artificial food dyes. As a result of public concerns that artificial food dyes may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children, some companies have reduced using artificial colors in food or put mandatory warning labels for most of the dyed foods about potential behavioral disorders in some kids. More companies have started using natural food dyes to ensure public safety.

However, in the United States, no such action has been taken yet despite widespread public concerns and steps taken in Europe. The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects at least 5 percent of the US children. This is enough of a reason for food manufacturers to attach a label, warning of artificial dyes causing hyperactivity and autism in children. This would encourage consumers and parents to switch to safer food products that use natural coloring and do not pose any kind of threat to kids.

Long ago, the FDA granted the “generally regarded as safe” status to a number of artificial food dyes, including yellow 5, red 40, which were under review by the FDA panel recently. Thirteen placebo-controlled studies were conducted in this regard, which concluded that kids with hyperactivity problems showed slight improvement when artificial dyes are removed from their diets. However, no action was taken in the United States to ban any kind of dyed products.