John Bruton
Ceist:160 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if there is an established link between the accumulation of food additives and hyperactivity in children. [14472/01]
Written Answers. - Food Additives.
I am advised by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland that current mainstream medical opinion is that true hyperactivity caused by foods is rare and there is little, if any, hard evidence to link additives with behavioural disorders. A large number of studies using proper study dosing, including double blind, placebo controlled challenges, have been unable to show a significant effect of colouring and preservative free diet on behaviour in children with true hyperkinetic syndrome.