Neurobehavioral Toxicology, 1979. Spring;1(1):41-7. (Today called Neurotoxicology and Teratology)
In a study on rat pups, the highest dose of food dyes caused the greatest activity. Even after a half hour, the pups only calmed down by 7.25% — while the normal pups had calmed down by more than 30%.
NOTE: 2.0 mg/kg is about the same as 60 mg food dye for a 30 kg (66 pound) child. 60 mg is about what you get in a single red-frosted cupcake.
