voluntary ban on artificial food colours
Earlier this month, Government ministers agreed with a Food
Standards Agency (FSA) proposal for a voluntary ban on six
artificial food colours - Tartrazine (E102), Quinoline Yellow
(E104), Sunset Yellow (E110), Carmoisine (E122), Ponceau 4R (E124),
Allura Red (E129) – by the end of 2009.
The FSA recommendation followed the publication of a study from
Southampton University which found a link between the consumption
of mixtures of these six food colourings, along with the
preservative Sodium Benzoate (E211), and hyperactivity in children.
The ban does not extend to sodium benzoate as this is used as a
preservative.
This is in parallel with action at the EU level where the
European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) is currently reviewing all food
additives with a view to establishing a positive list under the new
food additives legislation. The six food colours involved in the
Southampton study have been given priority in this assessment
process and the review of these colours is expected to be completed
by mid-2009.
It has also been agreed that 18 months after the new Food
Additives Regulation comes into force, foods containing any of
these six colours must include a warning that ‘consumption may have
an adverse effect on activity and attention in children’. It is
expected that this requirement will be in force from around
mid-2010.
Click here to view the letter
that the FSA sent to stakeholders updating them on the
above.
