U.S. group calls for food dyes ban

BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhuanet) -- A U.S. consumer group is pushing to ban the use of eight artificial food dyes because they may cause hyperactivity and behavior problems in some children, according to U.S. media reports on Wednesday.

    Controlled studies conducted over three decades have shown that children's behavior can be worsened by some artificial dyes, said the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

    "The food supply is essentially booby trapped with thousands of foods that can contain these offending chemical additives. The appropriate public health response to this problem is to get the food dyes out of the food supply," said CSPI Executive Director, Michael Jacobson.