What is it?
The Feingold Diet is an elimination program that removes synthetic food colors, artificial flavors and selected preservatives. The initial phase may also remove foods naturally high in salicylates before some foods are gradually reintroduced.
Foods removed or limited:
Artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives such as BHA, BHT and TBHQ, and—during the strict introductory phase—selected fruits, vegetables and other foods containing salicylates.
Potential health benefits:
Some research suggests that artificial food colors may contribute to hyperactivity or attention-related symptoms in a small subgroup of children. The evidence is not strong enough to recommend the complete Feingold Diet for all children.
Who may benefit most?
A child with a suspected sensitivity to particular food colors or additives, especially when symptoms are documented and the elimination trial is supervised.
How may it support an autistic child?
Some autistic children also have ADHD, hyperactivity or sensitivity to particular ingredients. Identifying an individual trigger may help that specific child, but the Feingold Diet has not been shown to treat autism.
Important caution:
Removing fruits and other nutritious foods unnecessarily may make an already selective diet even more restrictive.