e-6668 Consumer protection
Petition to the House of Commons
Whereas:
Synthetic food dye has been linked to mental health issues in children, including aggression, memory and learning issues, and severe emotional dysregulation;
These adverse effects are estimated to affect 8% of children with ADHD, yet synthetic dyes remain prevalent in food and medicine;
The Government of Canada has committed to ensuring that food additives do not pose a hazard to consumer health;
Vulnerable populations—particularly children, individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions, and pregnant persons—are disproportionately at risk;
Alarmingly, these additives persist in foods marketed to children and even prenatal vitamins, despite animal studies demonstrating genotoxicity, oxidative stress, and impaired neurodevelopment;
Canada’s inaction contravenes the precautionary principle, a cornerstone of public health policy requiring preventative measures when credible risks exist, even amid scientific uncertainty; and
Current regulatory gaps perpetuate a preventable public health crisis, failing those most vulnerable.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to:
1. Reform regulations permitting synthetic food dyes (e.g., Red 40, Yellow 5/6, Red 3), which peer-reviewed studies link to neurological harm in children, including hyperactivity, attention deficits, and behavioral disruptions at levels far below the ADI;
2. Immediately reassess synthetic dyes under the Food and Drugs Act, prioritizing independent neurodevelopmental research and applying the precautionary principle to phase out suspect additives until proven safe for sensitive groups;
3. Enforce mandatory warnings for products containing these dyes and prioritize their removal from prenatal/children’s medicine, dental products, and vitamins; and
4. Collaborate with pediatric and neurodevelopmental experts to ensure regulations are science-based and prioritize mental health protection over industry convenience.
Whereas:
Synthetic food dye has been linked to mental health issues in children, including aggression, memory and learning issues, and severe emotional dysregulation;
These adverse effects are estimated to affect 8% of children with ADHD, yet synthetic dyes remain prevalent in food and medicine;
The Government of Canada has committed to ensuring that food additives do not pose a hazard to consumer health;
Vulnerable populations—particularly children, individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions, and pregnant persons—are disproportionately at risk;
Alarmingly, these additives persist in foods marketed to children and even prenatal vitamins, despite animal studies demonstrating genotoxicity, oxidative stress, and impaired neurodevelopment;
Canada’s inaction contravenes the precautionary principle, a cornerstone of public health policy requiring preventative measures when credible risks exist, even amid scientific uncertainty; and
Current regulatory gaps perpetuate a preventable public health crisis, failing those most vulnerable.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to:
1. Reform regulations permitting synthetic food dyes (e.g., Red 40, Yellow 5/6, Red 3), which peer-reviewed studies link to neurological harm in children, including hyperactivity, attention deficits, and behavioral disruptions at levels far below the ADI;
2. Immediately reassess synthetic dyes under the Food and Drugs Act, prioritizing independent neurodevelopmental research and applying the precautionary principle to phase out suspect additives until proven safe for sensitive groups;
3. Enforce mandatory warnings for products containing these dyes and prioritize their removal from prenatal/children’s medicine, dental products, and vitamins; and
4. Collaborate with pediatric and neurodevelopmental experts to ensure regulations are science-based and prioritize mental health protection over industry convenience.