Synthetic Food Dye Risk Assessment

The California legislature provided funding to OEHHA to conduct a health effects assessment of the potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on neurobehavioral and other neurologic effects in children. OEHHA has finalized the report.  The report includes the following food dyes, which are the most commonly consumed in the US, in its assessment:

In conducting this health effects assessment, OEHHA evaluated the toxicology, epidemiology, clinical, and exposure literature and databases. OEHHA requested information relevant to the neurobehavioral effects of the synthetic food dyes from the public in 2018, and conducted a symposium on the neurological and neurobehavioral impacts of synthetic food dyes in October 2019. OEHHA’s draft report was released for a public review period in August 2020, and the draft underwent scientific peer review.  OEHHA responded to the public comments and comments from the peer reviewers, and revised the draft report.  The final report, “Health Effects Assessment: Potential Neurobehavioral Effects of Synthetic Food Dyes in Children”, is now available. 

To download the final report, the comments from the public, the peer reviews, and OEHHA’s responses to both public comments and comments from the peer reviewers, please scroll down to the announcement of the release.

For technical questions about OEHHA’s Synthetic Food Dye Risk Assessment, please contact Rima Woods at (916) 322-2136 or Rima.Woods@oehha.ca.gov. For media inquiries, please contact Amy Gilson at (916) 324-0955 or Amy.Gilson@oehha.ca.gov.