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Europe-wide food color ban call 4-10-08
A food safety watchdog has called for a Europe-wide ban on six artificial
food colorings after research found a link with hyperactivity in children.
A total ban on the use of the colors would have to be agreed by the EU.
So the Foods Standard Agency wants UK ministers to push for voluntary removal of
the colors by next year.
In September 2007, a UK study reported children behaved impulsively and lost
concentration after consuming a drink containing additives.
Which colorings?
Sunset yellow (E110) - Coloring found in squashes (slushes)
Carmoisine (E122) - Red coloring in jellies
Tartrazine (E102) - New coloring in lollies, fizzy drinks
Ponceau 4R (E124) - Red coloring
Quinoline yellow (E104) - Food coloring
Allura red AC (E129) - Orange/red food dye
In the study, 300 children were randomly given one of three drinks, either a
potent mix of colorings and additives, a drink that roughly matched the average
daily additive intake of a child of their age or a "placebo" drink with no
additives.
Their hyperactivity levels were measured before and afterwards, and researchers
found that the drink with the highest level of additives had a "significantly
adverse" effect compared with the placebo drink.
Hyperactivity
The six colorings concerned are found in many products such as sweets,
confectionary, processed food and takeaways.
In light of the research, the FSA advised parents of hyperactive children to be
aware of the potential risks of consuming the colorings.
But campaigners said more should be done.
At a board meeting on Thursday, FSA chair Dame Deirdre Hutton said: "The
evidence we have suggests it would be sensible for these [colorings] to be taken
out of food.
We are surprised the FSA board feels it is an appropriate use of their powers to
call for a voluntary ban
Julian Hunt, Food and Drink Federation
"We would like to see the use of colors phased out over a period. That does
require mandatory action by the EU."
FSA board members explained that as EU legislation would take many years to come
into force they wanted to see a voluntary "phasing out" of the colors as soon as
possible.
The European Food Safety Agency said in March that effects of the food colorings
on children's behavior were small but, as the there were no nutritional benefits
from the additives, there would be no cost or risk to the child in removing them
from the diet.
Julian Hunt of industry body the Food and Drink Federation said: "UK food and
drink manufacturers are already taking these colors out of products on
supermarket shelves, so we are surprised the FSA board feels it is an
appropriate use of their powers to call for a voluntary ban."
He said there was "a handful" of products, including mushy peas and battenburg
cake, where it had not been possible to remove the colorings and the industry
was concerned they would have to be taken off shop shelves.
Mr Hunt warned that a UK ban would be at odds with the rest of Europe, as it
would not apply to European imports.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said they would be asking the FSA to
continue to work with industry to voluntarily remove the additives, particularly
from children's foods.
"If parents are concerned about any additives they should remember that, by law,
food additives must be listed on the label so they can make the choice to avoid
the product if they want to."
Anna Glayzer, campaign co-ordinator at Action on Additives, said: "We are
delighted that the FSA has put its duty to the consumer first in their decision
to recommend an EU ban.
She added: "We will be keeping a close eye on industry to see what effect the
voluntary ban has."