Artificial colorings must be approved by the FDA and produced under controlled situations. They are often preferred over natural colorings because they are more stable, add no flavor, are less expensive, blend more easily and can be used in smaller amounts because they are more intense. In the past, artificial colorings had been linked with hyperactivity in children. But a 1980 report of the Nutrition Foundation concluded that there is no evidence that artificial food colorings produce hyperactivity or learning disabilities in children. They did acknowledge, however, that dietary restrictions may have a placebo effect in that adults may perceive a change in the child's behavior when diet changes are made.
Flavorings also can be either natural or synthetic.
Although consumers tend to link natural flavorings and herbs just as the consumer does colorings with purity and safety, artificial colorings and flavorings are better tested, more uniform, less expensive, and more concentrated. For copies of this publication contact an Extension unit in one of the sponsoring states. Reprinted November 1993 Programs and activities of the Cooperative Extension Service are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, or disability. This text was extracted from the publication, NCR438.