Hyperkinesis and Sensitivity to the Aniline Food Dyes

Introduction In the past several years there has been a progressive increase in the number of hyperkinetic children seen in American schools. This disorder is much more common in children in the United States than in Scandinavian countries. It is proposed that the reason for the marked difference in frequency can be partly accounted for by the extensive use of food dyes and additives in "quick energy" processed American foods. A convenient and simple method for determination of sensitivity to the food dyes has been developed (Hawley and Buckley, 1974). A concentrate of these coloring agents can be purchased in any supermarket. These colors are mixtures of standard FD and C dyes which have been approved for use by the F.D.A. (See Table 1.) A series of one to five dilutions is made and one drop is placed under the tongue, and the child is simply observed