10 April 2008
The Food Standards Agency today announced its decision to recommend to Ministers the phasing out of six colours in food and drink in the EU. These six colours - sunset yellow (E110), quinoline yellow (E104), carmoisine (E122), allura red (E129), tartrazine (E102) and ponceau 4R (E124) - had been shown to increase hyperactive behaviour of children in a study published by a University of Southampton research team in September 2007 (Jim Stevenson, Donna McCann, Edmund Sonuga-Barke and John Warner).
Toxic Colours
- Sunset yellow (E110) - Colouring found in squashes
- Carmoisine (E122) - Red colouring in jellies
- Tartrazine (E102) - New colouring in lollies, fizzy drinks
- Ponceau 4R (E124) - Red colouring
- Quinoline yellow (E104) - Food colouring
- Allura red AC (E129) - Orange/red food dye
The FSA Council says that the basis for its recommendation is that:
- the Southampton study is "a scientific study of the highest quality";
- there is an accumulating body of evidence that there is an association between the consumption of certain food colours and children's behaviour;
- all food additives must be safe for use in order to be approved. The available evidence now leaves uncertainty as to whether that safety can be confidently asserted;
- the technological function of colours in food is about conferring a consumer choice benefit rather than a safety benefit; and
- a significant part of the UK food industry is already moving away from the use of artificial food colours in responding to consumer demand.
The Southampton research team welcomes the recognition by the FSA of the case for removal of these colours from food. The possible role of food colours in exacerbating the level of hyperactivity in children has been mooted for over 30 years. There has been accumulating evidence for such an effect on children with more extreme levels of hyperactivity or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). READ MORE»»
