The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking more closely at the possible connection between artificial food coloring and hyperactivity in some children.

Food manufacturers deny a connection, but many consumer groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, say there is a definite link, citing red dye #40 and yellow dyes #5 and 6 that are used most commonly.

The FDA, according to new reports, is not saying that food dyes can cause Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but may worsen the condition for certain children.

The FDA is reportedly considering food labeling that warns consumers about possible health effects, similar to labels currently in place throughout the European Union.

Artificial food dyes are commonly used in everything from candy to fruit juices, applesauce to pickles to chips and margarine.

Food manufacturers say they are necessary to make foods attractive because natural colors often get washed out during processing. Artificial colors are listed as product ingredients.

Some parents find that choosing products with natural plant-based colorings has made a difference in the behavior of their children diagnosed with ADHD. Others have turned to the additive-free Feingold diet.