The Center for Science in the Public Interest puts pressure on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban artificial food dyes which are suspected of causing hyperactivity in children. Some of them are already banned or have started phasing out in Europe and other parts of the world where consumers are more concerned about their health.

The eight dyes which the Center for Science in the Public Interest wants banned include Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, and Yellow 6. They are mostly found (or found in most) in the cereals, candies, sodas, and snack foods pitched to kids. The Center's executive director, Michael F. Jacobson, told AP that these chemicals are used to mask the absence of real food and to increase the appeal of a low-nutrition product to children.

This also means that, even though their direct toxicity is disputed, there is indirect damage by promoting a unhealthy diet. Jacobson said the U.S. food offering is "booby trapped" with thousands of products which contain these "offending" chemical additives.

The FDA dismissed the request, claiming that chemicals used to dye the food are safe. The regulator alleges that "well controlled" studies have found no evidence that additives cause hyperactivity or learning disabilities in children. The FDA is backed by a prominent industry group, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which issued a statement claiming children can safely enjoy their chemical food.