ADHD · sensitivities · focus

ADHD-friendly foods: scan your pantry for the dyes Europe labels

The Southampton Study linked artificial dyes to hyperactivity in children. The EU now requires every product with Red 40, Yellow 5, or Yellow 6 to carry a warning label. The US does not. Scan any barcode and find them in seconds.

Southampton Study sourcedEU warning-label listFree 5 scans/day

If you parent a kid with ADHD or sensitivities, you have probably already heard the artificial-dye conversation. You have also probably had the experience of standing in the cereal aisle reading labels with one hand and managing a meltdown with the other.

We built this scanner so you do not need 20 minutes per shopping trip to figure out which fruit snacks have Red 40 and which do not. Scan the barcode. Get an answer. Get on with your day.

Every Southampton-Six dye flagged
Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Tartrazine, Carmoisine, Ponceau 4R — plus the rest of the EU warning-label list.
Family profiles
Pro lets you save per-child sensitivity profiles — for ADHD, autism, eczema, or general sensitivity — and raise scoring strictness.
Real swaps, not just warnings
Every Avoid result shows safer-brand alternatives kids actually eat — Annie's, Made Good, Simple Mills, and more.
No app download
Works in your phone browser. Install as a free home-screen icon if you want one-tap access.

The dyes linked to hyperactivity in children

Frequently asked questions

What is the Southampton Study?
A 2007 University of Southampton study (McCann et al., published in The Lancet) found that mixtures of artificial dyes — Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Tartrazine, Carmoisine, Ponceau 4R, plus sodium benzoate — increased hyperactivity in 3-year-olds and 8-9-year-olds. The EU made dye warning labels mandatory in 2010 as a direct result.
Does removing dyes actually help ADHD?
Research suggests removing artificial dyes can help a subset of children with ADHD symptoms — not all. A 2012 meta-analysis in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry estimated 8% of kids with ADHD respond positively to dye elimination. Other children show no measurable change. Always discuss dietary changes with your pediatrician.
Which artificial dyes does BannedPantry flag?
Red 40, Yellow 5 (Tartrazine), Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow), Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, and Red 3 — every petroleum-derived dye on the EU warning-label list and California school-food restrictions list.
Are "natural" colors safe for ADHD?
Generally yes. Beet juice powder, annatto, paprika extract, turmeric, spirulina, and carrot juice are not on our flag list. We only flag synthetic dyes derived from petroleum.
Can I get a dye-free shopping list?
Yes — Pro subscribers get a personalized PDF pantry audit listing every product you own that contains artificial dyes plus a safer-brand swap for each.

Find the dyes in your pantry — in 60 seconds.

Scan one snack right now and see what is in it. Free. No account. No judgment.

Our scores are never influenced by brands. Data sourced from EFSA, FDA, Health Canada, and peer-reviewed research. Educational use only — consult your doctor for medical decisions.

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ADHD-Friendly Foods: How to Avoid Artificial Dyes Linked to Hyperactivity | BannedPantry | BannedPantry