(CBS News)  

Do some food additives make hyperactive kids more hyper? A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel meets Wednesday and Thursday to take up the question, which was first asked in the 1970s. Consumer groups say food additives, such as dyes, can trigger behavioral problems. The food industry insists they're safe.

 

The research at the center of this debate indicates kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can have exaggerated symptoms if exposed to some food additives, including some preservatives and food dyes.

 

Registered dietitian Cynthia Sass explained on "The Early Show" that, if the additives are taken away, their symptoms improve.

 

"Right now, the research isn't looking like these cause hyperactivity, but they can certainly exaggerate it in those kids," she said.