Synthetic Food Dye and Behavior by

awhitehurst5_1 — 2025-04-23 23:51:56 UTC

Hi everyone! My names Amaya, and with me in this picture is my girlfriend Olivia. I am taking this class as my last elective that I need to finish my A.A. in Psychology. I am starting at UNC in the fall to get my Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. Then hopefully transferring to CSU to get my Masters in Social Work, and pursue my LCSW. With that I plan to work inpatient with adolescents.

awhitehurst5_1 — 2025-04-24 00:00:42 UTC

In a number of studies it has been found that synthetic food dye, specifically Red 40 and Yellow 5 have implications on behavior.

🍎 In one study done on animals, it found that exposure to synthetic food dyes can lead to changes in behavior, such as an increase in hyperactivity and a decrease in attention.

🍏 In another study, one group of children were given increasing doses of tartrazine (Yellow 5) every morning. While the other group of children took a placebo pill every morning. The study found that the children taking tartrazine experienced behavioral changes, such as, irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbances.

Why This Topic?

awhitehurst5_1 — 2025-04-24 00:35:38 UTC

As someone who struggled with behavioral problems as a child, I am passionate about anything that can potentially help lessen troubled behaviors. Also, with planning on working with children that struggle with behavioral health problems I think it is important that I know all of the things that can effect behaviors, so that we can address them. Synthetic food dyes are just one piece of the puzzle, but it is one piece closer to finishing it.

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awhitehurst5_1 — 2025-04-24 00:54:38 UTC

Supposedly, yes! The FDA has announced plans to revoke both Citrus Red Number 2 and Orange B. Additionally, there are plans to eliminate six other synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026.

awhitehurst5_1 — 2025-04-24 00:59:58 UTC

Synthetic food dyes are artificial colors made from chemicals made from petroleum. Synthetic food dyes are used to make foods more colorful, appear more fresh, and to catch people's attention.

What Foods Contain Synthetic Food Dyes?

awhitehurst5_1 — 2025-04-24 01:03:46 UTC

🛑 M&Ms

🛑 Gummy Bears

🛑 Starbursts

🛑 Skittles

🛑 Fruit Loops

🛑 Jello

🛑 Sodas

awhitehurst5_1 — 2025-04-24 01:20:13 UTC

The nutrition pillar of lifestyle medicine focuses on "consuming a fiber-filled, nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich eating pattern based predominantly on a variety of minimally processed vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds" (American College of Lifestyle Medicine, 2025). Avoiding Synthetic Food Dyes is an important aspect of having a minimally processed diet.

References

awhitehurst5_1 — 2025-04-24 01:29:07 UTC

FDA. (2025, April 22). HHS, FDA to Phase out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-fda-phase-out-petroleum-based-synthetic-dyes-nations-food-supply

Miller, M. D., Steinmaus, C., Golub, M. S., Castorina, R., Thilakartne, R., Bradman, A., & Marty, M. A. (2022). Potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children: a review of the human and animal evidence. Environmental health : a global access science source, 21(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-022-00849-9

Rowe, K. S., & Rowe, K. J. (1994). Synthetic food coloring and behavior: a dose response effect in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures study. The Journal of pediatrics, 125(5 Pt 1), 691–698. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(94)70059-1

What is Lifestyle Medicine?. American College of Lifestyle Medicine. (2025, March 17). https://lifestylemedicine.org/