BREAKING NEWS (old)

Archived 21/6/2010

 

Latest Failsafe Newsletter #63 January – March 2010

 

Updated factsheets: Depression (see new video)

                                MSG (monosodium glutamate)

 

Review of food labelling in Australia and New Zealand: watch out for public consultation in capital cities from mid-Feb to mid-May so you can attend and lobby. You can read our Network submission at http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/support/FINlabelsubmission01.pdf.

 

Archived 9/2/2010

December 2009: Submission to FSANZ opposing extension of use of artificial red colour Erythrosine 127 (Application A603) (December 2009)

December 2009: Success! McDonalds remove annatto (160b) from soft serve mix in Australia: "Sundae without Topping" now appears to be suitable for many failsafers (contains milk; traces of gluten and sulphites). You can ask for a plastic cup instead of the cone which contains artificial colour Sunset Yellow (110). Our campaign The Great Macca's Experiment concerning the effects of annatto is now abandoned :-) Feedback welcome. http://mcdonalds.com.au/sites/mcdonalds.com.au/files/images/Ingredient-Listing-17-November-2009.pdf

November 2009: ADHD guidelines blocked. The release of controversial guidelines on ADHD have been stopped by the Australian Federal Government following the revelation that seven of the 10 people in charge of setting the guidelines had financial links to firms who make ADHD drugs and one psychiatrist, whose research into anti-psychotic drugs helped form the guidelines, is under investigation in the US for allegedly failing to declare $1.6 million in payments from drug companies. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/adhd-guidelines-pulled-after-payment-scandal/story-e6freuzr-1225801902002

Diet could be the key, not drugs http://www.news.com.au/story/0,,26386783-421,00.html – the experience of the majority of Network members is that food intolerance is frequently misdiagnosed as ADHD, although some children appear to need medication. FIN’s July 2008 submission on these ADHD guidelines, meticulously researched and referenced, has never even had the courtesy of an acknowledgement from RACP: http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/support/ADHD07.pdf

November 2009: thanks to everyone who helped Sue Dengate reach the finalists in the Australian of the Year awards. While not winning, the nomination helped raise the profile of food intolerance everywhere. Photos of Sue receiving her finalists award from the Deputy Premier of NSW, and her support at the ceremony: Jenny Ravlic and Kathleen Daalmeyer of Additive Education in Melbourne, husband Dr Howard Dengate, and long-term failsafe contact Sheryl Sibley from Canberra.

      

November 2009: thanks to everyone who helped the Network make a great submission to the Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy currently underway for Australia and New Zealand. You can read the policy and attachments.

Latest Failsafe Newsletter #62 October – December 2009

New factsheet: Failsafe birthday parties

New factsheet: 249-252 Nitrates, nitrites and nitrosamines

 

Archived 23/11/2009

 

New talks by Sue Dengate in November

Bellingen NSW Mon 23 November 10.00-12.00am: Sue Dengate chatting with the Bellingen Baby Pre and Post Natal Support Group, CWA Rooms, Bellingen. Enquiries Mieke 02 6655 2992

23 October 2009 Review of food labelling in Australia announced: the long-awaited review of food labeling is underway – if you want to have issues raised by the Network, please email Howard at confoodnet@ozemail.com.au. A draft of our submission, due by 20 November (!) will be circulated to all email support groups for comment later. Media release: Groups welcome food labelling review: call for better labeling ( 26 October 2009). Government announcement:

http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/mediareleases/mediareleases2009/23october2009jointcommuniqueaustraliaandnewzealandfoodregulationministerialcouncil/index.cfm

 

Archived 5/11/2009

 

Online survey extended to 31 October 2009: this Central Queensland University survey by Dr Karena Burke is about choices people make about their food - please help make food intolerance and allergy issues better known in just 20 minutes: http://ssiweb.cqu.edu.au/food/foodlogn.htm

 

3 October 2009 articles on that black form of MSG

http://www.smh.com.au/national/kraft-spread-saga-gets-ironic-20091002-ggj0.html

http://www.johnkaye.org.au/media/kraft-youve-dropped-the-bad-name-now-drop-the-bad-fat

 

13 September 2009 articles on why we still allow food colours here that are banned in Europe

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/banned-in-europe-but-well-eat-it/story-e6freuy9-1225772226152

http://johnkaye.org.au/media/nsw-kids-let-down-by-weak-food-laws

 

Effect of childhood diet on adult violence: children who eat sweets and chocolate every day are more likely to be violent as adults, according to a Cardiff University study in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Researchers looked at data on almost 17,500 people and found that 69 per cent of the participants who were violent at the age of 34 had eaten sweets and chocolate nearly every day during childhood, compared to 42 per cent who were non-violent. As BBC online reader Yachydda from Wrexham commented: "Sweets themselves do not have an effect on making a child violent, but E-numbers do ..." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8281147.stm

 

Keep in touch with Sue on the talks tour: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128458328536#/group.php?gid=128458328536

OR Fed Up Tour August 2009

 

3/08/2009 Latest Failsafe Newsletter #61 July – September 2009.

 

See the list of 1154 Australian products containing the Southampton Six artificial colours here. See details of additives banned or restricted overseas.

 

 

Six artificial colours, which are being removed from all food in the UK after scientists likened their detrimental effects to those of lead on children’s development, are the focus of a new campaign supported by over 100 influential health professionals, educators, food manufacturers and children support service providers.

 

You can help by signing the on-line petition now! www.additivealert.com.au

 

Archived 2/10/2009

 

See also the finalised talks program details http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/support/talks.htm.

 

August 2009

 

Bingara NSW Monday 17 August

Warialda NSW Monday 17 August

Inverell NSW Tuesday 18 August

Richmond NSW Thursday 20 August

Killara (Sydney) Monday 24 August

Springwood (Blue Mountains) NSW Tuesday 25 August

Tumbarumba NSW Wednesday 26 August

Albury/Wodonga NSW/VIC Thursday 27 August

Wangaratta VIC Monday 31 August

 

September 2009

 

Melbourne (East) VIC Tuesday 1 September

Ballarat VIC Wednesday 2 September

Mildura VIC Thursday 3 September

Bordertown SA Saturday 5 September

Naracoorte SA Monday 7 September

Adelaide SA Wednesday 9 September

Kimba SA Thursday 10 September

 

Archived 3/08/2009

 

Asda claims victory in aspartame 'nasty' case: a UK High Court judge has found in favour of the Asda supermarket chain in its court battle with Ajinomoto over food and beverage 'no nasties' labelling. MSG and aspartame giant Ajinomoto launched a malicious falsehood action against Asda last year when supermarket labelling on its 'Good For You' own label food and soft drink products as containing 'no hidden nasties' included aspartame. Calling the judgement "a sweet victory", Asda chief merchandising officer Darren Blackhurst said: "We're in the business of listening to our customers and they've told us loud and clear that they don't want unnecessary, artificial additives in their food." Ajinomoto plans to appeal. http://www.foodnavigator.com/On-your-radar/Artificial-additives/Asda-claims-victory-in-aspartame-nasty-case

 

Norfolk Island shopping list

 

July 2009: Fed Up With Sleep Disturbances? The webinar was attended by 95 people including some from Tokyo, Dallas, NZ, Canada, New York, Mumbai and most from Australia. The emails keep flooding in, thanks to Elizabeth Shannon for organizing. Sue Dengate gave a free on-line web seminar on Wednesday July 8 at 7:00 - 8:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) in association with Sleep With The Experts. Click here for more details and to book for the free webinar.

 

“Off colour” – watch online a great NZ TV documentary on food colours http://www.3news.co.nz/TVShows/60Minutes/60MinutesStoryDisplay/tabid/755/articleID/110224/cat/31/Default.aspx  

 

A Canadian whistleblower says that if Australians want to eat as safely as Europeans, they need to ban the five major contaminants of modern industrial food production. Visiting microbiologist Dr Shiv Chopra, a fellow of the World Health Organisation and former senior scientific adviser to Health Canada said it was not the job of the public to prove additives are harmful: "The onus should be on the government and big business to prove that these substances are not harmful, because they're the ones who are making money from them. Unless they can prove that these substances aren't harmful, we should be telling our governments that we don't want them in our food supply."  http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25686749-23289,00.html

 

June 2009: SUCCESS! All 14 artificial colours to go. ALDI will become the first Australian supermarket chain to remove six food colours proven to cause hyperactivity and other disorders in children from its range of own-branded products. It is also removing preservatives and a further eight food colourings it has identified as undesirable. "We chose not to wait for it be legislated in Australia as we believe the findings are enough to demonstrate this is the right thing to do," said Aldi Stores managing director Michael Kloeters.  He said the colourings would be replaced with natural alternatives or, some cases, "nothing at all". http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25618332-36418,00.html

 

3.28min video interview on nasty additives http://today.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=824733

 

"Woolworths says it's also been removing these food colourings from their private label products for over a year" from http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2595445.htm

 

The food industry is listening too http://www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2009/06/11/aldi-to-rid-their-products-of-food-colours-linked-to-hyperactivity.html

 

Seeing red over colour additives by Karen Collier HeraldSun

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25601761-24331,00.html and

Over 1000 products with suspect food colourings in Australia by Karen Collier The Daily Telegraph

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25601116-5006007,00.html

 

Archived 28/6/2009

 

May 2009: It’s official: a study of nearly 3000 teenagers at the Centre for Child Health in WA has found that the Western dietary pattern is significantly associated with poor behaviour.

 

This study showed that foods such as snacks, takeaway food, confectionery, processed and red meats, and other refined foods were associated with increased depression or aggression and that better behavioural outcomes were associated with a higher intake of fresh fruit and leafy green vegetables. But correlation is not causation.

 

What this study did not show is that micronutrients such as folates and other vitamins have anything to do with such behaviours. That is only speculation by the authors who chose to completely ignore the fact that additives in the western diet have been consistently associated with bad behaviours in over thirty years of research. 

 

See “The Association between dietary patterns and mental health in early adolescence”: http://tinyurl.com/rx2twa. 

 

Fantastic 31 minutes video interview with Sue Dengate http://maxawareness.com/members/featured/fed-up/ (You’ll need to join Maxawareness and pay $1 using a Credit Card).

 

Slush Puppies win a Nasty Food Award

 

New factsheet: Artificial colours around the world. Why are the regulations all different?

 

New articles: Food and depression, by Sue Dengate from Australian Certified Organic Magazine (1.1Mb PDF) Autumn 2009, and Food colours 101 from Reader’s Digest magazine Health Smart June-July 2009. See other articles too.

 

The Food Investigators: there's a new TV series on SBS starting on Wednesday 20 May from 7:30-8:00pm. Later parts include Sue Dengate supervising an additive-free trial with a sporting team, of great interest to Australian failsafers. This new 13-part series will investigate food; explore the myths, the hidden nasties, and just what is good, or not good, for us in our diet, co-hosted by emergency room doctor, Dr Renee Lim who sees the results of bad diets every day in the ER. http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/foodinvestigators/episodes/page/i/1/h/Episodes/

 

Archived 11/6/2009

 

Thanks to organisers of talks at Yamba and Coffs Harbour (Paul, Enid, Maria, Kerry) for their successful efforts during the recent heavy weather.

 

30/4/2009 Medical warning about salicylates in Bonjela: One of the most commonly used teething gels for babies has been linked to a potentially fatal disease. British authorities say the active ingredient - choline salicylate - in Bonjela may put children at risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare brain and liver disease. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/24/2552251.htm.

 

Coming talks in Melbourne by Kathleen and Jenny of Additive Education http://www.additiveeducation.com.au/talks.htm

 

17/4/09 Thank you to CHOICE magazine for their excellent investigation of additives in cakes: "Not quite like mother made. Many supermarket cakes are packed with additives, including artificial colours linked to hyperactivity in children ... any use of artificial colours that raises safety concerns is hard to justify" http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle.aspx?id=106788&catId=100228&tid=100008&p=1&title=Supermarket+cakes

 

Archived 30/4/2009

 

9/4/2009 Success with pears in syrup! We are pleased to announce that, thanks to lobbying by Food Intolerance Network members, Woolworths will be bringing back pears in syrup once their current stocks are exhausted. Thanks to members and Woolworths. Coles have also advised that they will continue to stock pears in syrup, from South Africa.

 

26/3/2009 Pears in syrup disappearing from supermarket shelves: we have been getting feedback from Network members that canned pears in syrup are being discontinued. Please ring or email immediately and tell the manufacturers and supermarkets if you are concerned – explain that pears in juice contain salicylates that affect your child’s health, behaviour and learning, that you want pears in syrup. Please ask them to reconsider as you buy this product every week and rely on it.

http://www.spcardmona.com.au/component/option,com_contact/Itemid,3/ or ring 1800 805 168

Coles: http://www.coles.com.au/contact/  or ring 1800 061 562

Woolworths/Safeways: http://www.woolworths.com.au/contactus/index.asp or ring 1300 767 969

 

25/3/2009 Talks program: Nearly 900 people came to sell-out talks in Alstonville, Brisbane, Gladstone, Calliope, Rockhampton and Brisbane. Thanks to the organizers Therese & Toni, Alyssah & Gina, Charmaine & Judy, Karena, Shaun & Jim, Anne & Cameron. The tour was notable for the number of teachers who attended, which is very positive. Planning is underway for a NSW-VIC-SA tour in August-September 2009.

 

16 March 2009: A2 milk is now available in UHT longlife cartons, both full and low fat, in Australia. See also updated A2 milk factsheet.

 

14 March 2009: the colour count continues - EU countries have far less colours in their food supply, with only 34 foods containing them in Sweden, 119 in Austria and 344 in Denmark.  The UK had more than 1000 and so far in Australia we have found 1154 products with these colours – see list of foods.

 

24 February 2009: newsletter just out: January – March 2009 Failsafe59

 

All Failsafe Newsletters from 1998-2006 inclusive have been gathered into a single 576 page (3.6Mb) file which you can download and search. There is a wealth of research, issue discussion, recipes, personal reports and recipes now available in one place. But some of the links are out of date and you must always check current products rather than relying on historical information – download all past Failsafe Newsletters

 

15 January 2009: new sitemap for easier navigation of this website.

 

20 December 2008 Smarties success!! 2½ years after the Food Intolerance Network started their Get Smarties campaign, Nestle have agreed to replace their artificial colours with natural colours. Thanks to our 6,200 families for their actions – now you can click on the link and say thanks to Nestle!  http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/classic-junk-food-gets-a-health-makeover/2008/12/19/1229189886151.html.

 

 

 

Six artificial colours, which are being removed from all food in the UK after scientists likened their detrimental effects to those of lead on children’s development, are the focus of a new campaign supported by over 100 influential health professionals, educators, food manufacturers and children support service providers.

 

You can help by signing the on-line petition now! www.additivealert.com.au 

 

  • Download flyer and/or small ad for your school magazine

 

                                                       

 

  • See more background information

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/features/colours/colours.htm

 

  • See Australian list of foods with nasty colours

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/features/colours/colourfoods.htm 

 

  • See letter to food regulator and our list of high profile supporters

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/features/colours/FSANZ14.pdf

 

Archived 25/3/2009

 

Talks in March 2009

 

Alstonville NSW Monday 16 March 7.00-9.00pm: Sue Dengate “The effects of foods on children’s behaviour” for St Joseph's Primary School, 11 Perry Street, Alstonville. No charge: costs are being met by Lismore CEO Parent Assembly. Sue Dengate’s books and DVD will be available at a reduced price, cash or cheque only. Contact Therese 02 6628 1009 tseymour@lism.catholic.edu.au

 

Brisbane QLD Wednesday 18 March 7.30-9.30pm:  Sue Dengate "The effects of foods on children's behaviour" for Queensland Playgroup Association at Kedron Wavell Services Club, 375 Hamilton Road, Chermside. Tickets $16 for Playgroup Queensland members and $20 for others, limited to 300 people. Sue Dengate's books and DVD will be available at a reduced price, cash or cheque only. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1800 171 882 or visiting www.playgroupaustralia.com.au/qld. The evening will not cater for children.

 

Gladstone QLD Thursday 19 March 7.00-9.00pm: Sue Dengate "The effects of foods on children's behaviour" at Leo Zussino Building, Central Queensland University, Gladstone. $10 per person. Book your ticket through the Gladstone Entertainment Centre 07 4972 2822 or at Calliope State School or purchase at the door on the night. Sue Dengate's books and DVD will be available at a reduced cost, cash or cheque only. To register for this talk or for more information contact Charmaine on 0404066153 or email cthom146@eq.edu.au.

 

Rockhampton QLD Saturday 21 March 3.00-5.00pm: Sue Dengate “The effects of foods on children’s behaviour” at Building 32, CQUniversity, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton.  No charge. Sue Dengate’s books and DVD will be available at a reduced price, cash or cheque  only. Please RSVP to Jim j.douglas@cqu.edu.au or 07 4930 9371. No child minding facilities.

 

Brisbane QLD Monday 23 March 7.00-9.00pm: Sue Dengate "The effects of foods on children's behaviour" at Shailer Park State School, Bulwarna Street, Shailer. Cost $12 and half-price for dads accompanying mums. Sue Dengate's books and DVD will be available at a reduced cost, cash or cheque only. Contact Anne 0401 583 114 or  07 3216 8742 – tickets will be on sale after 1 March.

 

Archived 24/02/2009

 

19 December 2008 Contrary to popular opinion, sugar does not cause children’s hyperactivity says a new study in the British Medical Journal and we agree, we have been saying that for years. However, we strongly disagree with the widely publicised and unscientific conclusion of these researchers that changes in children’s behaviour are all in the minds of parents – see new Factsheet: Sugar and hyperactivity.

 

Archived 15/01/2009

 

12 December 2008 Australia’s food regulator FSANZ releases survey of colours in Australian food. http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/mediareleases/mediareleases2008/australianchildrenco4109.cfm.

 

See Food Intolerance Network response. EU countries have far less colours in their food supply, with only 34 foods containing them in Sweden, 119 in Austria and 344 in Denmark.  The UK had more than 1000 and so far in Australia we have found 638 products with these colours – see list of foods.

 

Two new Factsheets: Chest pain and heart symptoms; Head lice and nits.

 

The latest newsletter is Failsafe Newsletter October – December 2008 #58

 

23 November 2008 More on slushies: schools see red on dangerous food colourings and canteen associations starting to act http://www.smh.com.au/news/lifeandstyle/parenting/kids-health/schools-see-red-on-dangerous-food-colourings/2008/11/22/1226770801002.html

 

15 November 2008 Four colours either banned or in the process of being banned elsewhere in the world due to their harmful effects on children are making rapid inroads into Australian school canteens: http://www.smh.com.au/news/lifeandstyle/health/diet-experts-go-cold-on-icy-canteen-treat/2008/11/14/1226318927579.html

 

The Kids First Campaign:

 

Six artificial colours, which are being removed from all food in the UK after scientists likened their detrimental effects to those of lead on children’s development, are the focus of a new campaign supported by over 100 influential health professionals, educators, food manufacturers and children support service providers.

 

The campaign unites the three leading food additive consumer advocates in the country, Julie Eady from Additive Alert, Sue Dengate from the Food Intolerance Network and Kathleen Daalmeyer from Additive Education.

 

The Kids First Campaign will demand that Australia’s Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) follow the UK’s lead by placing consumers first and banning the six additives in question from Australian food.

 

Please sign the on-line petition now! www.additivealert.com.au 

 

The importance of this Campaign is that, when successful, it will be the first time that food regulators have accepted the importance of behaviour and learning as criteria in approval processes.

 

These six colours (Tartrazine 102, Quinoline Yellow 104, Sunset Yellow 110, Carmoisine 122, Ponceau Red 124 and Allura Red 129) are in the process of being withdrawn in the UK and from the end of 2009 will carry a warning in the EU “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

 

Archived 9/12/2008

 

3/9/2008 Latest Failsafe Newsletter July - September 2008 #57

 

Get Smarties 2 campaign – you can help – tell Nestle if you would like natural colours in Smarties in Australia as they do in the UK (see story in Failsafe Newsletter April – June 2008 #56)

Click on the link above or www.nestle.com.au and click on Contact Us (top right) or Phone: 1800 025 361 Fax: 02 9736 0407, Mail: Consumer Services Department, GPO Box 4320, Sydney NSW 2001

COMING TALKS:

 

Armidale NSW Friday 28 November 2008 at 1.30pm: Sue Dengate “The effects of foods on children’s behaviour” for the Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) Organic Roadshow. New England Regional Art Museum, Kentucky St, Armidale, NSW. RSVP: 24th November 2008. Cost: $35 Members pre-payment ($40 on the day), $45 Non-Members pre-payment ($50 on the Day) for full conference from 8.30am-3.30pm. Meals: All-organic morning tea and lunch - won’t disappoint the foodies! 07 3350 5706 ext 221 info@bfa.com.au

 

Coffs Harbour NSW Saturday 29 November 2008 at 1.30pm: Sue Dengate “The effects of foods on children’s behaviour” for the Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) Organic Roadshow. Coffs Harbour Racing Club, Howard St, Coffs Harbour NSW. RSVP: 24th November 2008. Cost: $35 Members pre-payment ($40 on the day), $45 Non-Members pre-payment ($50 on the Day) for full conference from 8.30am-3.30pm. Meals: All-organic morning tea and lunch - won’t disappoint the foodies! 07 3350 5706 ext 221 info@bfa.com.au

Sue Dengate is a speaker at the 10th Annual Food Regulations and Labelling Standards Conference on Tuesday 18th November at Sydney Harbour Marriott www.informa.com.au/foodregulations. Sue will also be talking to the BFA (Biological Farmers of Australia in Armidale (28 November) and Coffs Harbour (29 November) – details will be put on website when available.

 

Archived 3/9/2008

 

28/7/2008 Food Intolerance Network submission on ADHD – FIN has made a submission to the Royal Australian College of Physicians on their draft guidelines on ADHD, which in draft minimize the use the diet and ignore much relevant research.

 

20/7/2008 On Sue’s recent speaking tour, so many people wanted to buy “the set” (Fed Up, the Failsafe Cookbook & the DVD Fed Up with Children’s Behaviour) that we now have a special offer of $70.00 delivered for all three.

 

9/7/2008 Artificial colours to come with a warning in Europe: food manufacturers making a product with any of six well-known artificial colours will soon be required to use a warning: "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children" according to a new ruling by the European Parliament. Companies will have to decide whether to continue to use the additives and suffer the effects the warning might have on sales, or invest in reformulation. Many large companies, such as Cadbury and Nestle, have already made pledges to remove all artificial colourings from their products.

 More at http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=86405&c=96gwzHDi%2FgR4NVbwXIrQPA%3D%3D.

 

Standard treatment for ADHD – eliminate food additives: the most recent editorial in the British Medical Journal has recommended that a trial eliminating food additives from the diets of hyperactive children should be part of standard treatment – why did it take so long? http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080522210010.htm

 

Coca-Cola in Britain began withdrawing the controversial preservative sodium benzoate (211) from Diet Coke in January in response to consumer demand for more natural products, but the company has no plans to remove it in Australia - http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23764556-662,00.html

 

Food sold in South Australian school canteens contains additives banned in several overseas countries, Opposition education spokesman David Pisoni

has claimed (see more about this in our next newsletter) http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23734976-2682,00.html

Strong response to talks tour: Over 3,000 people attended Sue Dengate’s recent talks in a program remarkable for its warm support and increased level of knowledge of food intolerance. Thanks to the many unpaid organizers and in particular to Peta & Vicky (Port Macquarie), Belinda & Bonnie (Wagga Wagga), Sheryl & Jan (Canberra), Debbie & Caroline (Devonport), Lisa (Launceston), Diane (Hobart),  Marg & Colleen (Frankston), John (Mornington), Kaz & Kirsty (Warrnambool), Irene, Peter, Adrian & Kathy, and Helen & Chris (Ballarat), Tracey (Mt Gambier), Bronwyn (Adelaide), Korina, Hadyn & Carol (Woy Woy), Erica & Matthew (Castle Hill), Tammy (Ipswich), Ann & family (Brisbane), and Bernadette & Debbie (Maclean).

10/04/2008: The UK's food watchdog, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), is to advise government Ministers to ask manufacturers to bring in a voluntary ban of six artificial food colours from food and drink by 2009. They will also advise Ministers to push for them to be phased out in the rest of the European Union. The colours are Sunset yellow (E110), Quinoline yellow (E104), Carmoisine (E122), Allura red (E129), Tartrazine (E102) and Ponceau 4R (E124) and have been on the Food Intolerance Network’s list of nasties for 15 years. We await action from Australian and New Zealand regulators… http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/103590.php.

More school trial info at http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/Factsuccess1.htm http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/Factschools.htm

Archived 21/6/2008

19/2/2008 Choice Magazine (Australia) is writing an article on food additives and is seeking people to contribute: http://www.choice.com.au/viewCalc.aspx?id=106153&catId=100272&tid=100040&p=1 - What additives most concern you? Do you avoid buying certain products because of the additives they contain? Does a 'free from artificial colours and preservatives' claim influence what product you buy?

Latest Failsafe Newsletter January – March 2008 on-line or as pdf (16 pages)

Food Intolerance brochure now In Dutch (thanks Peter) In French (thanks Ariane) In Italian (thanks Helen) In Portuguese (thanks Carla) In Spanish (thanks Daniela) In Nepali (thanks Sunita) In USA (thanks failsafeUSA members)

Archived 11/04/2008

Thursday, 21 February at 6.00pm - An evening with Sue Dengate at Muffledux bookstore in Sydney. This event is free but booking essential: info@muffledux.com.au ph  (02) 9664 9644, 211 Clovelly Road, Clovelly, NSW, http://www.muffledux.com.au/content/view/24/60/

In the UK there is great consumer action on banning food colours - http://www.actiononadditives.com/.

30/01/2008 New factsheet: Joint pain, arthritis and diet

Archived 15/02/2008

31/01/2008 All artificial colourings in food and soft drinks should be banned, according to a UK parliamentary committee researching the effect of diet on the brain: “the Food Standards Agency should be taking a tougher line on E-numbers and additives, which some studies suggest may over-stimulate children's brains and make them hyperactive.” And in Australia and New Zealand? The usual silence from those who claim to protect us. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jan/31/health.foodanddrink1

**WARNING** 29/01/2008 Consumers have been warned to moderate their intake of vegetable chips and crackers made from cassava after tests revealed questionable levels of naturally occurring cyanide. Cassava can be harmful when consumed in large quantities, particularly by small children. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, dizziness, headaches, stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhoea, while mental confusion, twitching and convulsions can occur in severe cases. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=285528

17/12/2007 Food additives making our kids sick http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22933523-5014717,00.html

13/12/2007 The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has put together a special working group to provide EU members with scientific advice on the effects of food additives on behaviour by the end of February. The move follows publication of a study conducted by the University of Southampton which suggested a link between mixtures of certain food colours and the preservative sodium benzoate and hyperactivity in children. More details at http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/printNewsBis.asp?id=82028

6/12/07 Still no action from FSANZ, the Australian and New Zealand food regulators, on the University of Southampton results published in the Lancet in September 2007. In the UK their Food Standards Authority is driving industry and industry has responded, but in Australia and NZ the silence we have come to expect. Here’s the Food Commission website doing something about it in the UK: www.actiononadditives.com

Latest Failsafe Newsletter # 54 October – December 2007 now available, featuring the Australian federal election and the new International Registry of Food Additive Reactions (IRFAR).

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