He claimed that close adherence to the diet reduced hyperactivity in children. Other researchers have been unable to show that the diet works for more than a few children. Studies since then support those findings. The Feingold diet does not cause physical harm. Children who are needlessly on the diet, though, may be emotionally and socially harmed, pediatricians warn.
Symptoms vary in type and degree.
They depend on the additive causing the reaction, how sensitive the patient is to the product and the amount consumed. Most reactions are chemical, not allergic reactions. People who react to one chemical are not likely to react to others. The most serious reaction to a food additive is anaphylactic shock. This is a life-threatening condition that includes breathing problems and loss of consciousness, among other physical reactions.