Abstract
The food industry uses numerous additives to enhance the sensory characteristics of products, but excessive consumption can negatively impact health. This study evaluated the intake of synthetic colorants (Sunset Yellow, Tartrazine, Allura Red, and Brilliant Blue) in primary school children in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA) during 2024. A descriptive quantitative study was designed to determine whether children aged 6 to 12 exceeded the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) in relation to their body weight. Consumption was analyzed using a 24-hour recall across eight food categories: sweet biscuits, condiments, sugary beverages, snack products, breakfast cereals, candies, powdered desserts, and jams. The results showed that over 80% of children consumed cereals, candies, and snack products daily, while 46.8% drank between 400 and 600 ml of sugary beverages. It was identified that 69 children exceeded the ADI for Sunset Yellow, 27 for Allura Red, 19 for Tartrazine, and 1 for Brilliant Blue. In conclusion, more than 60% of children surpassed the ADI for at least one synthetic colorant in their daily diet.