The European Food Safety Authority’s scientific panel on additives, the ANS Panel, has lowered the Acceptable Daily Intakes for the artificial food colours Quinoline Yellow (E104), Sunset Yellow FCF (E110) and Ponceau 4R (E124) – three of the food colours linked to hyperactivity in the ‘Southampton study‘. As a result, the Panel concluded that exposure to these colours could exceed the new ADIs (acceptable daily intakes) for both adults and children. The Panel found that the... ...Read more »

Discount grocer Aldi has announced it will reformulate all its private label food items to remove the six food colours which were linked to hyperactivity in children by a UK study in 2007. The six colours, [sunset yellow (E110), quinoline yellow (E104), carmoisine (E122), allura red (E129), tartrazine (E102) and ponceau 4R (E124)], have been under fire ever since the late-2007 ‘Southampton Study’ which found that a mix of one of the six food additives with the preservative sodium benzoate... ...Read more »

An investigation by a leading consumer group into supermarket cakes has discovered some contain more than 20 additives, including those used to prolong shelf life or cover up cheaper ingredients. Of the almost 100 cakes tested by Choice, Woolworths Bakehouse Sponge Iced and Fresh-Filled Cream cake was the worst offender with 27 additives. Top Taste Rollettes Choc and Woolworths Bakehouse Sponge Single Birthday Fresh Cream were a close second with 26 additives each. “Most people wouldn’t... ...Read more »

The Food Standards Agency has moved to promote brands that have rid their products of certain artificial ingredients in the wake of an agreement of Ministers to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommending a voluntary ban on certain food colours. The colours (listed below) were linked to hyperactivity in children by the ‘Southampton Study’ in the UK in 2007. Australia’s food regulator, FSANZ, has since carried out tests of food products in Australia and suggested a ban on the colours... ...Read more »

Australian children are consuming low levels of food colours, according to a survey of added colours in foods released today by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. FSANZ’s Chief Scientist, Dr Paul Brent said the results of this survey were very positive and indicate that colours are not being used above maximum permitted levels, or at levels that would pose a risk to consumers. “This survey provides significant reassurance that there is no public health and safety risk from the consumption... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council, Australia’s peak food and grocery manufacturing industry association, has said that calls from the NSW Greens for the banning of a number of food additives are based on flawed research and not on sound science. A “Kids First Campaign” – a combined initiative of Additive Alert, FIN and Additive Education – was launched yesterday and they are leading the calls for FSANZ to ban the colours in Australia. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell... ...Read more »

The issue of artificial food colours is about to be drawn out into the public forum in Australia, with a call for a phase out of six artificial colours. The Food Intolerance Network (FIN) is to send a letter today to FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand), which will call for a ban on six additives [sunset yellow (E110), quinoline yellow (E104), carmoisine (E122), allura red (E129), tartrazine (E102) and ponceau 4R (E124)]. The colours are used in a diverse range of food and have previously... ...Read more »