The UK government has backed the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) call for a voluntary ban on six food colourings that have been linked to hyperactivity in children.
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In April, the FSA proposed a ban that would phase out the use of six colourings – E102 Tartrazine, E104 Quinoline Yellow, E110 Sunset Yellow, E122 Carmoisine, E124 Ponceau 4R and E129 Allura Red – by the end of 2009.
The move came after researchers at the University of Southampton published the results of a study concluding that certain artificial food colours and additives exacerbate hyperactive behaviour in children.
“Government Ministers have agreed with the Food Standards Agency proposal for a voluntary ban on six food colourings linked to an increased risk of hyperactivity in children,” a spokesperson for the FSA told just-food today (13 November).
Meanwhile, the EU has proposed that from mid-2010 labelling should warn that these colourings have been linked to hyperactivity in children.
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By GlobalDataHealth campaigners have welcomed the news, with Action on Additives campaign co-ordinator Anna Glayzer stating: “It is good news that the FSA can now move forward with the voluntary ban… Some companies have already removed the colours from products, but many are dragging their feet. It is essential that the FSA keeps up the pressure on companies to get rid of these potentially harmful and utterly unnecessary ingredients.”
The FSA confirmed that it will continue to work closely with industry to remove colourings from food products.
