There's a saying that research tends to prove what people have known all along. The most recent case in point: combinations of food additives, such as sodium benzoate and artificial colors, produce hyperactivity in normal children. A study reported in the British medical journal, The Lancet, has been making headlines and causing concern in the food industry. Hyperactivity was measured by recognized observation checklists for 3-year-olds, and by checklists and computer-based tests for 8/9-year-olds.
This landmark study used a novel approach when evaluating the effects of food additives; additives were mixed, just as they occur in soft drinks and foods, and in moderate amounts. Previous studies evaluated the effects of specific additives in isolation. One mix of additives induced hyperactivity in 3-year-olds, and two different mixes of additives induced hyperactivity in 8/9-year-olds.
While food companies and even the FDA insist on the safety of specific chemicals (food colors, flavors, and preservatives), the study merits serious consideration by all parents: read labels for chemicals, and eliminate additives from daily diets.
Which foods and beverages contain the additives used in the study? Soft drinks such as Sprite, salad dressings such as most ranch dressing, and processed macaroni and cheese.
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