Media resources on effects of
artificial colours on children’s behaviour
Six
artificial colours are now banned in the UK and carry a warning in
the EU but permitted in Australia. Here’s how it
happened:
UK
May 2006
- Nestlé Rowntree removes all artificial colours from the casings of Smarties. The colours
being axed include Brilliant Blue (E133); Quinoline Yellow (E104); Sunset
Yellow (E110); Ponceau 4R (E124); and Carmoisine (E122). A recent study by
experts at Liverpool University identified a possible harmful cocktail
effect on the nervous system of artificial colours and chemicals (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1671688,00.html).
Two of the colours examined were Brilliant Blue and Quinoline Yellow,
which like many others was originally derived from coal tar. Concerns
about Brilliant Blue also include a link to hyperactivity and skin rashes.
It is even listed as cancer risk by US Environment Protection Agency.
Similar health concerns surround the other artificial colours which are
being withdrawn. The move by Smarties is part of a major shift by the
entire industry. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-385455/Why-blue-smarties-turning-white.html
Australia
May 2006
- Nestle in Australia will continue to use artificial colours despite the company's British arm halting
production because of health concerns … A spokeswoman for Nestle Australia
said the company had received no complaints about blue Smarties and had
alternative, naturally coloured sweets available. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,19071263-24331,00.html
UK
June 2007
- UK supermarkets promise to ban colours A study into additives and their effect on
children's behaviour is currently being conducted by the University of Southampton on behalf of the Food Standards Agency
(FSA). It will be published in a few months, but a leaked report revealed
certain colourings and additives could increase hyperactivity. The leak
coincided with a promise from Britain's major supermarkets to ban potentially
dangerous additives from the majority of their own-brand products: Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Asda
and Tesco will be additive-free by the end of the year. http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,,2095617,00.html
UK
September
2007
·
Publication of the Southampton
study in the Lancet: 153
3-year-old and 144 8/9-year-old children were included in the trial.
Conclusion: “Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the
diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children
in the general population.” McCann
D et al. Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and
8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded,
placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2007;370(9598):1560-7. http://www.precaution.org/lib/food_additives_and_hyperactivity.070906.pdf.
UK
September 2007
- Confectionery giants cut use of artificial additives - In the wake of a damning scientific report
on the health effects of artificial additives, Cadbury Trebor Bassett and
Mars UK today said they are cutting the chemicals from their products http://foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=79751.
Australia
September 2007
- Lawyers slam ‘confusing responses’ to food additive issue by
Australian food watchdog FSANZ - Hyperactivity study: lawyers warn that
regardless of whether food additives are approved by FSANZ, food companies
could be liable should it transpire that there is any long-term harm
resulting from the use of a harmful food additive, Foodlegal Bulletin Sept
2007, http://www.foodlegal.com.au/db/sep07_1/fsanz_responses_to_food_additives
- Two media releases from the Food Intolerance Network:
6/9/2007 “Food additives again shown to worsen children’s
behaviour – when will regulators act? asks Network”. http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/extras/Southampton.pdf
13/9/2007 “Time for action on kids and food colours” http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/features/colours/Southampton02.pdf
- 13/9/2007 Comments from the Food Intolerance Network on the recent FSANZ Factsheet
“Effects of artificial colours on children's behaviour”
“New research into the possible effects of artificial
food colours on children’s behaviour was published on 6
September, 2007 in
the medical journal The Lancet. This study has been reviewed by experts in the United Kingdom and is described by the Food Standards Agency
there as a helpful additional contribution to our knowledge on the possible
effects of artificial food colours on children’s behaviour.”
COMMENT from FIN: Over 30 years of research
have consistently shown that there are negative effects from colours. The few
studies which did not support this view can be criticised on procedural
grounds. The latest study, published in the Lancet on 6//9/2007, is a
gold-standard double-blind placebo-controlled study with over 300 children. It
is time to stop minimising the harm and to stop talking about “possible”
effects – effects are proven by the best that science can manage. To say
otherwise is patronising to both science and parents….FSANZfactsheet.htm
UK
March 2008
- UK Action on Additives campaign Campaigners at
The Food Commission have so far found more than 1,000 food, drink and
medicine products that contain one or more of the seven food additives that
have been linked to increased hyperactivity in susceptible children. The
list of products is available online at www.actiononadditives.com
UK
April 2008
- UK food watchdog calls for a ban on colours. A food safety
watchdog has called for a Europe-wide ban on six artificial food
colourings after research found a link with hyperactivity in children. A
total ban on the use of the colours would have to be agreed by the EU. So
the Foods Standard Agency wants UK ministers to
push for voluntary removal of the colours by next year. The colours are
Sunset yellow (E110), Quinoline yellow (E104), Carmoisine (E122), Allura
red (E129), Tartrazine (E102) and Ponceau 4R (E124). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7340426.stm “It is the Agency’s duty to put consumers
first” … Last year a
study by researchers at Southampton University warned the chemicals cause “psychological
harm” to children. Professor Jim Stevenson said: “The effects we are
seeing here are sufficiently great to represent a threat to health.” When
calling for a voluntary ban of six artificial colours, Dame Deirdre
Hutton, Chair of the Food Standards Agency 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 findings of the
Southampton Study, to remove them from food and drink.” http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/health/health/article1027066.ece
Australia
May 2008
- ‘Harmful additives’ in food sold in SA schools. Food sold in South Australian school canteens
contains additives banned in several overseas countries, the State
Opposition has claimed. Opposition education spokesman David Pisoni today
said the additives and preservatives in food approved for sale in school
canteens under the Government's Rite Bite food program had been linked to
asthma, skin rashes and behavioural problems. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23734976-2682,00.html
Australia
May 2008
- Diet Coke's controversial additive to stay. Coca-Cola Australia has no plans to phase out a controversial
additive in its drinks, despite moves in Britain to remove it. Sodium benzoate has been
linked to damage to DNA and hyperactivity in children, and is used as a
preservative in Diet Coke in Australia. Coca-Cola in Britain said it had begun withdrawing the
additive from Diet Coke in January in response to consumer demand for more
natural products. - http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23764556-662,00.html
Europe
July 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: http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=86405&c=96gwzHDi%2FgR4NVbwXIrQPA%3D%3D.
Australia
August 2008
- Smarties in Australia still contain
artificial colours. More than 2 years after Nestle
removed artificial colours from Smarties in the UK following concerns
about artificial colours and additives in children’s foods, Smarties in Australia still
contain five out of six of the artificial colours now banned in the UK.
- FSANZ puts consumers
last. Unlike the UK and EU
food standards agencies, Australian food watchdog FSANZ continues to put
consumers last. On the official website, FSANZ claims that only a small
proportion of the population is affected (where is the evidence?) and have
so far failed to acknowledge the colour warning now required in the EU,
despite the fact that colour containing foods produced in Australia for
European markets will require the warning "may have an adverse effect on activity and
attention in children" http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/factsheets/factsheets2008/effectsofartificialc3893.cfm
Australia
December
2008
- 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.
Australia
December
2008
Australia
March 2009
- The Australian colour product count reaches 1154.
For more information contact Sue Dengate suedengate@ozemail.com.au at the
Food Intolerance Network
www.fedup.com.au
