Synthetic Colors in Food: A Warning for Children’s Health

Zandleme Birino de Oliveira (), Darlene Vitória Silva da Costa, Ana Caroline da Silva dos Santos, Antônio Quaresma da Silva Júnior, Amanda de Lima Silva, Raphael Carlos Ferrer de Santana, Isabella Cristhina Gonçalves Costa, Sara Freitas de Sousa Ramos, Gabriel Padilla and Silvia Katrine Rabelo da Silva
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Zandleme Birino de Oliveira: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Naturais da Amazônia, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil
Darlene Vitória Silva da Costa: Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil
Ana Caroline da Silva dos Santos: Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil
Antônio Quaresma da Silva Júnior: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Rede Bionorte, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil
Amanda de Lima Silva: Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil
Raphael Carlos Ferrer de Santana: Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil
Isabella Cristhina Gonçalves Costa: Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil
Sara Freitas de Sousa Ramos: Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil
Gabriel Padilla: Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil
Silvia Katrine Rabelo da Silva: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Recursos Naturais da Amazônia, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: This study addressed the harmful effects of artificial colors in pediatric populations, including children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as those without behavioral disorders. There is a consensus that synthetic food colorings have several impacts on consumers, especially pediatrics, due to their influence on sensory appeal, which can encourage preference for certain foods. The results revealed that these color additives are directly linked to a series of health problems, with a greater impact on children, including a predisposition to pathological conditions such as carcinogenic, allergenic, mutagenic, cytotoxic, and clastogenic activities, as well as gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, in addition to behavioral changes in children with and without diagnosed disorders. The harms of synthetic dyes in children with or without comorbidities are worrying and require a careful and proactive approach from parents, caregivers and public authorities.

Keywords: synthetic dyes; food additives; toxicity; behavioral disorders (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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