The Food Standards Agency has announced plans to ban artificial colourings from hundreds of different food products.
The agency recommended that Ministers called for the removal of six artificial colourings by the end of 2009. The colourings involved are:
The agency recommended that Ministers called for the removal of six artificial colourings by the end of 2009. The colourings involved are:
- Tartrazine (E102)
- Quinoline yellow (E104)
- Sunset yellow (E110)
- Carmoisine (E122)
- Ponceau 4R (E124)
- Allura red (E129)
These colours and sodium benozate have been linked to child hyperactivity and loss of attention in the classroom.
Dame Deirdre Hutton, chair of the FSA, said: "It is the agency's duty to put consumers first. These additives give colour to foods but nothing else. It would therefore be sensible, in the light of the study, to remove them."
Campaigners have welcomed the move to reduce the number of additives in UK sold foods. Richard Watts, of the Children's Food Campaign, said: "This decision is good news for children and parents, who have known for many years that these additives affect children's behaviour."
Dame Deirdre Hutton, chair of the FSA, said: "It is the agency's duty to put consumers first. These additives give colour to foods but nothing else. It would therefore be sensible, in the light of the study, to remove them."
Campaigners have welcomed the move to reduce the number of additives in UK sold foods. Richard Watts, of the Children's Food Campaign, said: "This decision is good news for children and parents, who have known for many years that these additives affect children's behaviour."
