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Food dye and ADHD: what California, EFSA and a 2012 meta-analysis concluded.

Updated

A balanced, sourced review of whether artificial food dyes affect children’s behavior: California OEHHA’s April 2021 report, a 2012 meta-analysis, EFSA’s reviews, the EU warning label on six colours, the FDA’s position and the products in our catalog that list a dye.

Quick answer

The research does not show that food dyes cause ADHD. California’s OEHHA concluded in April 2021 that synthetic dyes are associated with inattention, hyperactivity and restlessness in some sensitive children, with or without an ADHD diagnosis. A 2012 meta-analysis found small effects on parent-rated symptoms that shrank after adjusting for publication bias. EFSA found limited evidence of a small effect from dye mixtures and no causal link for individual colours. The FDA says most children have no adverse effects and some may be sensitive. The EU requires a warning on six colours.

OEHHA report
April 2021
Meta-analysis
Nigg et al., 2012
EU warning label
Six colours, incl. Red 40
FDA position
Most children no effect; some may be sensitive

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01 · A closer look

California’s 2021 review.

OEHHA, California’s environmental health agency, reviewed human, animal and mechanistic studies of seven FDA-certified dyes (Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6). It concluded the human evidence indicates dyes are associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in children and that children vary in sensitivity, adding that clear associations were not seen in every study. It did not limit the review to children with ADHD, and found the relationship holds for children with and without pre-existing behavioral disorders. It also noted that the studies behind the FDA and JECFA acceptable daily intakes are 35 to almost 70 years old and were not designed to detect these outcomes. The report was not part of a mandated program and OEHHA planned no formal action.

California OEHHA: health effects assessment, potential neurobehavioral effects of synthetic food dyes in children (April 2021)

02 · A closer look

The 2012 meta-analysis.

Nigg and colleagues pooled studies through February 2011. Restriction diets reduced ADHD symptoms (g = 0.29). For food colours alone, parent ratings showed an effect of g = 0.18 that fell to 0.12 after adjusting for possible publication bias, while teacher and observer ratings showed no significant overall effect. The authors estimated roughly 8 percent of children with ADHD may have symptoms related to synthetic colours, and concluded the colour effects are vulnerable to publication bias or come from small samples that may not generalize.

Nigg et al., meta-analysis of ADHD or ADHD symptoms, restriction diet, and synthetic food color additives, J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry (2012)

03 · A closer look

What EFSA concluded.

In March 2008 EFSA reviewed the 2007 Southampton study of colour and preservative mixtures. It judged the study gave limited evidence that the mixtures had a small effect on some children’s activity and attention, that effects were not consistent across the two age groups and mixtures, and that their significance was unclear, so the study could not be used to change acceptable daily intakes. In November 2009 EFSA re-evaluated six colours and said the data did not substantiate a causal link between the individual colours and behavioral effects, while lowering intakes for three of them.

EFSA: assessment of the results of the McCann et al. 2007 study on colours, sodium benzoate and children’s behaviour (Mar 14, 2008)

04 · A closer look

The EU warning label.

Under Regulation 1333/2008, foods containing Sunset yellow (E 110), Quinoline yellow (E 104), Carmoisine (E 122), Allura red (E 129, Red 40), Tartrazine (E 102, Yellow 5) or Ponceau 4R (E 124) must carry the colour’s name or E number followed by “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”.

EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, Article 24 and Annex V

05 · A closer look

The FDA’s position.

The FDA says it has reviewed and will continue to examine the effects of colour additives on children’s behavior, that most children have no adverse effects from foods containing colour additives, and that some evidence suggests certain children may be sensitive. In April 2025 it announced a voluntary effort to phase out petroleum-based dyes, covered in the US food dye ban guide.

FDA: color additives, questions and answers for consumers (content current as of Dec 14, 2023)

06 · A closer look

What this means at the shelf.

If your child seems sensitive, the practical step is to read the ingredient list for Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, their Lake forms and “artificial color”. The catalog products below list at least one artificial dye on their recorded label, one or two per shelf; open a product for its full label and date. This page is a label reference, not medical advice. Talk to your child’s clinician before changing a diet for a diagnosed condition.

The short answer

Our picks for food dye and adhd

No pick yetEvery scored food dye and adhd label lists at least one of the groups we check, so nothing here earns a pick.

Clear noKar's Sweet 'n Salty Mix (lists seed oils, artificial dyes, hydrogenated oils and corn syrups), Totino's Combination Sausage & Pepperoni Seasoned Pork, Chicken and Beef Pizza Topping Pizza in a Golden Crust (lists seed oils, artificial dyes, artificial preservatives and banned-abroad additives), Wise Bbq Potato Chips (lists seed oils, artificial dyes and MSG), plus 15 more with a listed group.

Ranked from 18 of 18 products with current labels. Every product is in the table below; a score reflects labels and claims, not nutrition, allergies or safety.

Compare the recorded labels

Find the ingredients that matter to you.

18 of 18 products

“No …” columns: None found on the label · Listed on the label · Unknown. Diet fit: Fits · Doesn’t fit · Unknown (rules; not medical advice). Claims: verified · not established. Default: most check marks first; not a health score.

Compare product claims and recorded ingredients. Click a column heading to sort.
Buy
63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimFind where to buy ↗Product details →3
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimFind where to buy ↗Product details →3
55 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
53 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →3
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →1
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →1
47 / 1006 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →1
39 / 1005 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
39 / 1005 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →2
How the clean score works

No setup needed, and strict: a full 100 needs every additive group clear and a verified organic claim (animal foods also need a verified grass-fed or pasture-raised claim; wild seafood and salt, which have no USDA organic standard, are scored without the organic points, and plant-based milks, cheeses and proteins without the feeding claim). Points: the nine additive groups (seed oils, artificial dyes, MSG, artificial sweeteners, carrageenan, artificial preservatives, hydrogenated oils, corn syrups, banned-abroad additives) share 60 points equally — not found earns a group’s full share, “may contain” earns half, listed earns 0; a verified organic claim is worth 25; a verified grass-fed or pasture-raised claim is worth 15 and counts only for animal foods. No claim, or an expired or unverified claim, earns nothing, so products without those claims cannot reach 100. Unverified or expired ingredient labels receive no score. Equal scores are equal. Ties are ordered by brand. Unknown and stale evidence never passes “Only show matches.” Producer claims and prices do not affect this score. This is not a nutrition, allergy, or safety rating.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying links do not influence ingredient results. “Buy on Amazon” opens a reviewed product listing; “Find where to buy” opens the maker’s page. Confirm the package, seller, stock, and current price before checkout. Price observations expire after 30 days.

Primary sources

Sources

  1. California OEHHA: health effects assessment, potential neurobehavioral effects of synthetic food dyes in children (April 2021) oehha.ca.gov
  2. Nigg et al., meta-analysis of ADHD or ADHD symptoms, restriction diet, and synthetic food color additives, J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry (2012) pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. EFSA: assessment of the results of the McCann et al. 2007 study on colours, sodium benzoate and children’s behaviour (Mar 14, 2008) efsa.europa.eu
  4. EFSA: updated safety advice on six food colours (Nov 12, 2009) efsa.europa.eu
  5. EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, Article 24 and Annex V eur-lex.europa.eu
  6. FDA: color additives, questions and answers for consumers (content current as of Dec 14, 2023) fda.gov

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