Mandatory Warnings Placed On Food And Drink Colorings Linked To Childhood Hyperactivity, Europe

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Main Category: ADHD
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals
Article Date: 24 Jul 2010 - 9:00 PDT

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The European Union announced that now a health warning must be placed on any drink or food that still contains colorings linked to hyperactivity in some children. The Food Standards Agency (FSA), UK, said that this ruling follows the Southampton Study which suggested a possible link between six colors and childhood hyperactivity.

The six colors include:

• Tartrazine (E102)
• Quinoline Yellow (E104)
• Sunset Yellow (E110)
• Carmoisine (E122)
• Ponceau 4R (E124)
• Allura Red (E129)

All foods and drinks which contain any of the six colors, with the exception of drinks with over 1.2% alcohol, will now have to include a warning on the label that the color "may have effects on activity and attention in children."

The FSA states that this ruling became mandatory across the European Union from 20^th July, 2010.

Consumable products produced before the mandatory date may continue to be marketed, so it may be a while before newly labeled products appear on some shelves.

The Food Standards Agency has been working with the UK food and drinks industries to voluntarily remove the six colors from their products, and make this information available to purchasers.

The agency informs that the new mandatory warning will help consumers choose products that are free from these colors.

Source: Food Standards Agency

Related article: "Food Dye Ban Implemented Or Considered By Some Health Authorities After Cancer And Hyperactivity Link Found"

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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