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| Parents warned of additives link | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Parents have been warned of the effects of food additives on their children's behaviour after new research found a possible link to hyperactivity. | |
| A Food Standards Agency (FSA) study on 300 randomly selected children found hyperactivity rose after a drink containing additive combinations. | |
| The FSA now says hyperactive children might benefit from fewer additives. | |
| But experts said drugs rather than diet changes could improve behaviour more effectively in the most severe cases. | |
| WHICH ADDITIVES? Sunset yellow (E110) - Colouring found in squashesCarmoisine (E122) - Red colouring in jelliesTartrazine (E102) - New colouring in lollies, fizzy drinksPonceau 4R (E124) - Red colouringSodium benzoate (E211) - PreservativeQuinoline yellow (E110) - Food colouringAllura red AC (E129) - Orange / red food dye Mother blames son's diet | WHICH ADDITIVES? Sunset yellow (E110) - Colouring found in squashesCarmoisine (E122) - Red colouring in jelliesTartrazine (E102) - New colouring in lollies, fizzy drinksPonceau 4R (E124) - Red colouringSodium benzoate (E211) - PreservativeQuinoline yellow (E110) - Food colouringAllura red AC (E129) - Orange / red food dye Mother blames son's diet |
| Between 5% and 10% of school-age children suffer some degree of ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - researchers suggest, with symptoms such as impulsiveness, inability to concentrate and excessive activity. | Between 5% and 10% of school-age children suffer some degree of ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - researchers suggest, with symptoms such as impulsiveness, inability to concentrate and excessive activity. |
| More boys than girls are diagnosed with the condition, and children with ADHD can struggle academically, often behaving poorly in school. | More boys than girls are diagnosed with the condition, and children with ADHD can struggle academically, often behaving poorly in school. |
| Food colourings and other chemicals added to many cakes, sweets and drinks have long been blamed for making the disorder worse. | |
| This is not the first study to make a link between additives and hyperactive behaviour, but a wider age range of children were selected than in previous research, and not all had behavioural problems. | |
| Behaviour check | Behaviour check |
| The Food Standards Agency paid for Southampton University researchers to examine whether giving additives to a group of ordinary three-year-olds and eight or nine-year-olds had any effect on their behaviour. | The Food Standards Agency paid for Southampton University researchers to examine whether giving additives to a group of ordinary three-year-olds and eight or nine-year-olds had any effect on their behaviour. |
| The children were randomly given one of three drinks, either a potent mix of colourings and additives, a drink that roughly matched the average daily additive intake of a child of their age, or a "placebo" drink which had no additives. | The children were randomly given one of three drinks, either a potent mix of colourings and additives, a drink that roughly matched the average daily additive intake of a child of their age, or a "placebo" drink which had no additives. |
| Their hyperactivity levels were measured before and after the drink was taken. Mix "A", with the high levels of additives, had a "significantly adverse" effect compared with the inactive placebo drink. | Their hyperactivity levels were measured before and after the drink was taken. Mix "A", with the high levels of additives, had a "significantly adverse" effect compared with the inactive placebo drink. |
| Parents should not think that simply taking these additives out of food will prevent hyperactive disorders Dr Jim Stevenson, Southampton University | Parents should not think that simply taking these additives out of food will prevent hyperactive disorders Dr Jim Stevenson, Southampton University |
| The older children showed some adverse effects after the second, less potent mix, although the response varied significantly from child to child. | The older children showed some adverse effects after the second, less potent mix, although the response varied significantly from child to child. |
| Lead researcher Professor Jim Stevenson said the study, published in the Lancet, showed that certain mixtures of artificial food colours, alongside sodium benzoate, a preservative used in ice cream and confectionary, were linked to increases in hyperactivity. | |
| He added: "However, parents should not think that simply taking these additives out of food will prevent hyperactive disorders. | He added: "However, parents should not think that simply taking these additives out of food will prevent hyperactive disorders. |
| "We know that many other influences are at work but this at least is one a child can avoid." | "We know that many other influences are at work but this at least is one a child can avoid." |
| He said it was not possible to say which of the ingredients in the additives cocktail affected the children. | |
| Industry talks | Industry talks |
| The results of the research meant a change in official advice from the FSA, which has already met representatives of the UK food industry to talk about its implications. | The results of the research meant a change in official advice from the FSA, which has already met representatives of the UK food industry to talk about its implications. |
| It is important to reassure consumers that the Southampton study does not suggest there is a safety issue with the use of these additives Spokesman, Food and Drink Federation | It is important to reassure consumers that the Southampton study does not suggest there is a safety issue with the use of these additives Spokesman, Food and Drink Federation |
| The researchers pointed out that while artificial colours might be removed from foods easily, the removal of sodium benzoate would cause far more problems for the industry. | The researchers pointed out that while artificial colours might be removed from foods easily, the removal of sodium benzoate would cause far more problems for the industry. |
| Julian Hunt, from the Food and Drink Federation, said they accepted the FSA's advice but said the tests did not represent how additives were used normally. | |
| "Manufacturers are very aware of consumer sensitivities about the use of additives in food and drink products. It is important to reassure consumers that the Southampton study does not suggest there is a safety issue with the use of these additives." | |
| However, Andrea Bilbow, from ADHD support group ADDISS, said most parents of children with ADHD had tried diet changes, and while more than half had reported some improvement, this tended to be modest when compared with the effect of medication. | |
| She said: "In some respects the question of food additives is a little bit of a red herring. | She said: "In some respects the question of food additives is a little bit of a red herring. |
| "While in some cases, a poor diet could make ADHD even worse, a better diet is not going to make it much better." | "While in some cases, a poor diet could make ADHD even worse, a better diet is not going to make it much better." |
| And Dr Paul Illing, of the Royal Society of Chemistry, raised questions about the validity of the study. | And Dr Paul Illing, of the Royal Society of Chemistry, raised questions about the validity of the study. |
| "Extrapolating from the small study population to the general public is very difficult." What are your views of additives in children's food? Does your child suffer from behavioural problems that you suspect might be linked to additives? Send us your comments using the form below. | "Extrapolating from the small study population to the general public is very difficult." What are your views of additives in children's food? Does your child suffer from behavioural problems that you suspect might be linked to additives? Send us your comments using the form below. |
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| When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |