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Parents be careful about treating your kids to a coloured sweet treat, or decorating your kid’s birthday cake with artificially coloured candies.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has finally admitted that food colorings are not the harmless stuff most people consider them to be and may actually be dangerous to children.
In a new study published in their journal Pediatrics, food colorings have been linked to a whole host of health problems, including attention deficits, memory problems and even cancer.
It speaks of food colours which may even cross the blood-brain barrier. Toxic chemicals which gain access to the brain, may cause inflammation or act as excitotoxins, chemicals that literally excite brain cells to death.
It has been a lengthy delay in admitting the harm caused by food colours on the health of children which may have resulted in ADHD or other health issues in many children.
A study which was published in the medical journal Prescrire International has claimed that artificial food colors are linked to hyperactivity in children.
Another study published in the Annals of Allergy has found that artificial food colors are a direct link to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
ADHD is a condition whose symptoms include, difficulty concentrating or focusing, difficulty remaining still, having trouble being organized and being forgetful of tasks.
Other health conditions which co-exist along with it are learning disorders, bedwetting, antisocial behavior, substance abuse, etc.,
The US government currently allows 10,000 chemicals to be added to food under the 1958 Food Additives Amendment to the 1938 Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act.
Over 93 percent of these chemicals have never been tested for their potential dangers to humans.
We can only wonder what the situation on food colours and other additives are in India.
It’s time the government and regulatory authorities take action on these harmful additives which are widely marketed and used especially in children’s food products.
Sources : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19882794https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8179235
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2018/07/19/peds.2018-1410
https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20180723/food-additives-a-toxic-mix-for-kids
