On Wednesday the Food and Drug Administration will come together to examine the scientific evidence that links artificial food dyes with hyperactivity in children. Due to recent studies that show the dyes could cause what is often diagnosed as ADHD, some experts have asked the FDA to ban these substances in foods, or to at least put a warning label on the foods that contain them to warn parents that the food could cause their children to be hyperactive.

Many parents have tried food elimination diets in an effort to relieve the symptoms of ADHD in their children, with varying results. Some saw a change, but others had to take their children to a doctor and get medication before they saw any results in their behavior. For example, the now 19-year-old Dawnielle said she went from being the class clown to being the class example, but not before she went on medication.

In other countries, some food companies have made the switch to natural dyes from beets or turmeric, but US-based companies are hesitant to do so because such dies cost more and have less stable coloring.

The meeting on Wednesday and Thursday is a response to a petition from 2008 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest to ban eight dyes, including Yellow 5 and Red 40.