Environmental Matters in the Commonwealth of Kentucky

On June 3^rd, the Center for Science in the Public Interest formally petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban eight food dyes associated with hyperactivity and behavioral problems in children.  According to CSPI’s petition, Yellow 5, Red 40, and six other widely used artificial colorings are linked to hyperactivity and behavior problems in children and should be prohibited from use in foods.  The other six dyes are Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, and Yellow 6. CSPI’s petition asks the FDA to require a warning label on foods with artificial dyes while it decides CSPI’s request to ban the dyes outright. CSPI also wants the FDA to provide meaningful information to parents on the agency’s web site about the impact of artificial food dyes on children’s hyperactivity and behavioral problems.