Are Artificial Food Colours Affecting Your Child’s Behaviour? What Parents Need to Know
- Meenu Balaji
- Jan 22
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 23
Artificial food colours are everywhere from bright breakfast cereals, colourful candies, packaged snacks, bakery items, even medicines. For parents already navigating attention issues, hyperactivity, picky eating, or emotional meltdowns, one question comes up repeatedly:
Are artificial food colours harming my child’s health or behaviour? We’ll look at what the science actually shows and what parents can realistically do.
What Are Artificial Food Colours?
Artificial food colours (also called synthetic food dyes) are chemically manufactured additives used to enhance or restore colour in foods. Common examples include:
Red 40 (Allura Red)
Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)
Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow)
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)
Blue 2 (Indigotine)
In India, these may appear under INS numbers or as “permitted synthetic food colours.” Their role is cosmetic, not nutritional. They do not improve taste, shelf life, or health value. Certain studies suggest that taking 50mg of Tartrazine a day can increase hyperactivity in 8% of the children with ADHD.
How are Artificial Food Colours Made?
Artificial food colours are manufactured from petroleum-derived chemicals through industrial processing to create highly stable, intensely bright pigments. Their link to cancer and organ damage comes primarily from high-dose animal studies, manufacturing contamination risks, and long-term exposure concerns, rather than typical short-term intake.
While regulators differ, the EU requires warning labels and stricter limits, whereas India and the US allow wider use without behavioural warnings. The concern lies in cumulative exposure across multiple foods and developmental vulnerability in children, which justifies reducing routine intake, especially in children with neurological or gut sensitivities.
Regulatory Aspect | European Union (EFSA / EU Law) | India (FSSAI) |
General Framework | Each food colour has substance-specific use limits and ADI values established by EFSA; labels must list E-numbers. (European Food Safety Authority) | Synthetic colours are permitted only if FSSAI-approved; products must meet purity standard and safety criteria. (foodresearchlab.com) |
Maximum Use Levels | Varies by colour and food category (e.g., Sunset Yellow FCF & Ponceau 4R ~10 mg/kg in some products; Group III dyes up to ~300 mg/kg combined under specific conditions). (SpringerLink) | Generally max 100 mg/kg (100 ppm) of synthetic colours in most foods; certain categories can go up to 200 mg/kg. (FSSAI) |
Titanium Dioxide (E171) | Banned from foods (no permitted use) due to safety concerns. (SpringerLink) | Permitted in specific products in much higher amounts (e.g., ~10,000 mg/kg in chewing gum products), though overall limits vary by category. (SpringerLink) |
Ban / Restricted Colours | Some synthetic colours (e.g., certain azo dyes, Ponceau 4R at low limits, and others) are restricted or removed from permitted lists over time. (European Food Safety Authority) | A limited set of synthetic colours are approved; non-permitted colours are illegal. Enforcement issues exist with products exceeding limits. (FoodNavigator-Asia.com) |
Approach to ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) | Colour-specific ADIs based on toxicology and exposure assessments (e.g., Sunset Yellow ADI adjusted downward historically). (ConfectioneryNews.com) | No unique ADI system published by FSSAI for every colour; general “GMP and purity limits” are used with maximum mg/kg limits in foods. (FSSAI) |
Why Are Parents Concerned About Food Colouring?
Parents usually don’t start worrying about food colours randomly. Concern often begins when they notice:
Increased hyperactivity or restlessness
Emotional outbursts or irritability
Difficulty focusing
Poor impulse control
Sleep disturbances
For parents of children with ADHD, sensory processing differences, or gut issues, the question feels even more urgent. But concern does not automatically mean causation. Let’s look at the evidence.
What Does Research Say About Artificial Food Colours and Children’s Behaviour?
The Key Finding
Research does not show that artificial food colours cause ADHD. However, a subset of children may experience worsening of attention, hyperactivity, or emotional regulation when consuming foods high in artificial colours. This distinction matters.
The Southampton Studies (Why They’re Often Quoted)
Large UK-based studies found that mixtures of artificial food colours, combined with preservatives like sodium benzoate, were associated with:
Increased hyperactivity
Reduced attention
Behavioural changes
Importantly:
Effects were modest, not dramatic
Not all children were affected
Responses varied significantly between children
This led to mandatory warning labels in the EU, stating that certain food colours “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
What Major Health Bodies Say
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority): Artificial colours are considered safe within acceptable daily intake limits, but behavioural sensitivity exists in some children.
FDA (USA): No conclusive evidence of harm for the general population, but acknowledges behavioural sensitivity in subsets.
AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics): Encourages reduced exposure, especially in children with attention or behavioural challenges.
The takeaway? Caution, not alarm.
Which Children Are More Likely to React?
Based on clinical observation and research, higher sensitivity is seen in children who:
This does not mean artificial colours are the root cause. But they can act as behavioural amplifiers in vulnerable systems. Read our nutrition guidelines and practical tips for kids with ADHD.
The Gut–Brain Link: An Overlooked Piece
Artificial food colours may influence behaviour indirectly through the gut:
Altered gut microbiota composition
Increased intestinal permeability in susceptible children
Low-grade inflammation affecting the gut–brain axis
Children with already compromised gut health may therefore show stronger behavioural responses. This explains why removing colours alone doesn’t always help; the gut environment also matters.
Do Artificial Food Colours Affect Physical Health?
At approved intake levels, artificial colours are not linked to organ damage or toxicity in children.
However, concerns exist around:
Cumulative exposure from multiple foods
Higher intake in children due to lower body weight
Lack of nutritional benefit
The Real Problem: Where Food Colours Show Up
Artificial colours rarely appear alone. They often signal:
When parents notice changes in behaviour after consumingcoloured foods, the colour may not be the only factor. This is why blanket bans often disappoint.
Should Parents Eliminate Artificial Food Colours Completely?
It is better to limit foods that have artificial food colors.
A Pragmatic Approach
Instead of elimination diets:
Reduce daily exposure, not occasional treats
Observe behaviour patterns over 2–3 weeks
Focus on overall meal balance (protein, fibre, fats)
Support gut health and micronutrient status
In clinical nutrition practice, this approach avoids food fear while still respecting a child’s sensitivity.
Practical Parent Guide: What You Can Do
1. Read Labels Without Obsession
Look for:
INS 102, 110, 122, 124, 129
“Permitted synthetic food colours”
No need to eliminate every trace—but reduce frequent sources.
2. Upgrade, Don’t Replace Everything
Instead of removing favourites:
Choose naturally coloured alternatives
Rotate snacks
Reduce frequency, not joy
3. Strengthen the Child’s Foundation
Children tolerate additives better when they have:
Adequate protein intake
Stable blood sugar
Sufficient iron, zinc and omega-3s
Regular meal timing
This is where nutrition support actually makes a difference. In many kids, I work with
4. Avoid Using Food as Behaviour Control
Restrictive food rules can:
Increase anxiety
Worsen picky eating
Backfire behaviourally
Through my clinical interactions with parents across multiple age groups, I consistently observe a recurring pattern: food is often used as a tool to secure compliance, encourage finishing homework, promote good behaviour, or complete daily tasks. Over time, these conditions lead children to perceive food primarily as a reward rather than as nourishment that supports growth, focus, and health.
Using rewards in parenting is not inherently problematic, but when food becomes the default incentive, it can unintentionally distort a child’s relationship with eating. From a nutrition and behaviour perspective, I encourage families to diversify reward systems and reserve food for its primary role: fuel, nourishment, and enjoyment. Whereas non-food rewards can be used to reinforce positive behaviours.
When to Seek Professional Guidance
Consider nutrition support if:
Behaviour issues are persistent
Food-related reactions are consistent
The child has diagnosed with ADHD or sensory issues
Mealtimes are highly stressful
A personalised plan is always more effective than internet checklists.
Frequently Asked Parent Questions (AI-Snippet Friendly)
1. Do artificial food colours cause ADHD?
No. They do not cause ADHD, but may worsen symptoms in some children.
2. Should I remove all coloured foods?
While it may not always be possible to do that, try to avoid food colours as much as you can.
Are natural colours safer?
Natural food colours like turmeric, beetroot extract and turmeric are generally safer than artificial ones.
How long before behaviour improves after reducing colours?
If sensitivity exists, changes may be seen within a few weeks.
The Bottom Line for Parents
For children, irrespective of whether they have Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, these colours affect them in different ways. This includes their hyperactivity, behavioural problems and attention issues. It can even affect sleep regulation in some.
References
Stevens LJ et al. Dietary sensitivities and ADHD. Clinical Pediatrics. 2011.
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