questions about the caramel color

I've had some recent questions about caramel color, so I thought that I have gathered some things I've found on this.

Caramel color is considered to be natural, but some experts now say that it may still have health risks. Here is the list of unnatural dye-based natural verses.
http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_coloring

Here is a recent article that describes some of these concerns on caramel color:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/Michael-f-Jacobson/caramel-coloring-in-soda-_b_823639.html

My experience is, well, strange to say the least. You could see my previous posts on anger and food dyes, tantrums and food dyes, or even bipolar children and food dyes. We were a family free of dye for almost 4 years now. We also do steps usually allow our kids to drink soda, so my recent experimentation is limited. We used to allow free soda's caffeine like root beer or lemon lime ones on special occasions. Usually I noticed that my two youngest got more and more hyperactive. I attributed that to the sodium benzoate so they get only rarely any soda at all. However, at least three rare occasions that I have allowed my more old to have the root beer, my generally easy going, cooperative and calm the children were asleep a terrible time. He kept thinking he was seeing or hearing things. It was just 'edgy', which rise upwards and upset without real reason. After the third or fourth time, we assigned to the root beer. No more root beer, no more problem. REALLY. We let it slip a few times more, (denial about the effects of food on the behavior is normal) and finally decided together (my son and I agreed) root beer does weird things to his thought. Avoid it, and we are very well. I should also mention here that my daughter also has trouble staying asleep if she has any of these food colours.

Now remember, I'm also a mental health professional. I am aware of that can mean these symptoms. It is extremely rare to have these symptoms just pop in and then disappear. But then again, this is what is happening with the other reactions of dye food that we lived, so I'm pretty confident that something in the root beer is doing this to my son. It is so good on this subject now, I just to brag of his responsible and mature response. When offered root beer at a party, he will say just it makes him mad so he does not drink it. His friends know that he has some weird food restrictions, they are used to it so that they accept and move. We have not had the same response from the clear sodas. With more sleep overs and the parties, it was permissible to have these and it is not a problem. I also like the new Sierra Mist natural. Finally something more that we had as children. Oddly enough, my son had Cola a few times (Papa wimpped and could not say no) but it doesn't seem to cause a problem.

While I'm on the subject, I can mention as well as we also try to avoid all artificial sweeteners. I have seen a trend in my professional work with children. Well meaning families who consume lot of Splenda (hoping to be healthier and avoid sugar) seem to have more than their share of aggitated children. Just an observation on that one, no research to back it up, but I think the general rule applies. A little sugar is OK in moderation, fake stuff stuff and chemical gets you one way or another. If your children do not sleep, once more, check the food and get rid of fake stuff. You might be surprised how much your kids can be when they eat real food, healthy.