My son suffers from chemical intolerances too, we did an exclusion diet that starts off bland and you add 'challenges' back in to see if there is a reaction.  You should google salicalytes and amines intolerance and put your son on this kind of modified diet .  My son, if he eats anything with artificial colours flavours or preservatives, becomes an aggressive maniac, he will throw furniture around, throw tantrums over any little thing (he is 7 now) his asthma and eczema flare up, he is jittery and has involuntary jerks, he can't sit still, is easily frustrated and can't concentrate. 

I monitor my son's diet meticulously, and he knows what he can and can't have, and will refuse anything he is unable to eat if he is offered it by someone else.  He also reacts to MSG and soduim nitrate(cured meats).  Changing what I buy has made a HUGE difference to his health and well being.  He cannot have aspartame or phenylanelyne (sp?) either, it give him eczema.  I believe it is better for us to eat natural stuff anyway, you don't need to miss out on stuff, there are natural alternatives for everything, and now even Coles is making lollies without artificial colours or flavours.  UK and EU have banned the use of all artificial colours and flavours in foodstuffs - BUT some natural colours, like cochineal and annatto (both red) can still have an effect on kids behaviour. 

Sausages have preservative in them, even if it is not listed on the ingredients, it is in the rice mix they use.

Sugar does NOT effect my son, he could eat a2kg bag of sugar and then sit down and do his homework, but if he has artificial colours with the sugar, all hell breaks loose!  Scientific studies back this theory up.

If you can afford to, the Dr told me it is best to buy organic beef and chicken eggs (and pork if you eat it) as the conventional livestock are feed unnatural diets that change the ratio of fatty acids and the human body then has trouble processing it, which leads to weight gain and possibly bad reactions.  Don't fret though Australian livestock producers are not allowed to use growth hormones and they must be clear of all antibiotics b4 they are errr slaughtered  due to the fact that if someone with a penicillin allergy eats a cow with that drug in it's system, they could die from a reaction. 

Also look at a website www.additivealert.com.au   I find this website great.  If you wish to try and exclusion diet, you will need to get it from the Dr (allergists have a diet specifically for chemical sensitivity) and go to a dietician to ensure your child has an adequate nutrition intake. 

I feel like I'm rambling, if you have any further queries, please feel free to contact me.  It's fantastic you are doing something about this now while your son is still young, good on you for being so proactive.  All the best

Hey there Raven,

As you know Josh has behaviour problems when he has certin food colourings and preservatives. I actually wrote an article here on minti about it. Just click onto my home page and it's under the heading ' Starting a food diary for your hyperactive child'

Josh has a bad reaction when ever he has green food colouring (133) he goes completely nuts and will be completely uncontrollable for at least a few hours then he gets what we call a hangover the next day. He can't also have too much chocolate as that also sends him nuts.

Josh is now on a colour and preservative free diet and his behaviour changed in about 3 days after starting it. Just read the advice article i wrote and if you have anymore questions just minti mail me.

Juzzy xoxoxoox

Don't know if this helps, but I have noticed that if I give Jasmine chocolate in any greater quantities than that found in a chocolate chip biscuit she goes quite beserk and uncontrollable. Generally, she doesn't get many sugary treats and I try to avoid the additves numbered 110, 102, 122 and 211 as I have been advised that these 'may' cause problems with behaviour.

I have suspicions, but no hard evidence of behavioural changes.  I bought ice creams for my kids at the local shopping centre, and they were much less controllable than usual.  Stupid me, I bought them just before I did the grocery shopping, so it was a very trying experience.

I have noticed that my oldest daughter (6) gets very active, and a bit rough when she drinks soft drink.  She starts shoving and climbing on me, and generally being very annoying.  I don't know if it's the sugar or the additives.  The boys seem to get angry quicker when they've had some sugary stuff, too.

I know this is not mainstream, but I have taken my children to a NAET practitioner, which is a non-invasive allergy elimination method and I've found that even though I was incredibly skeptical initially, two of my kids' eczema cleared up, and my 4 yo stopped wetting the bed after the first visit.  Could be a coincidence, but I think there are too many coincidences here.

The only other thing I do is to avoid foods with additives, especially the 2-series preservatives (202, 211 etc).  I've been told they are particularly bad for kids.  I am not militant about it, and allow the kids free reign at parties and the like, but not in everyday life.