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Watchdog under fire on additives | Watchdog under fire on additives |
(20 minutes later) | |
The Food Standards Agency has been accused by campaigners of "chickening out" of banning additives linked to hyperactivity in children. | The Food Standards Agency has been accused by campaigners of "chickening out" of banning additives linked to hyperactivity in children. |
FSA board members agreed to wait for the European Food Safety Authority to make a decision on the use of artificial food colours in food. | FSA board members agreed to wait for the European Food Safety Authority to make a decision on the use of artificial food colours in food. |
But the watchdog called on industry to act quicker to remove additives in response to concerns. | But the watchdog called on industry to act quicker to remove additives in response to concerns. |
A recent UK study found a link between additives and hyperactivity. | A recent UK study found a link between additives and hyperactivity. |
The FSA-funded research, published at the beginning of September, found impulsive behaviour and loss of concentration in children who had consumed a drink containing a mixture of additives. | The FSA-funded research, published at the beginning of September, found impulsive behaviour and loss of concentration in children who had consumed a drink containing a mixture of additives. |
The FSA then issued updated advice that eliminating the artificial colourings from the diet might have some beneficial effects in hyperactive children. | The FSA then issued updated advice that eliminating the artificial colourings from the diet might have some beneficial effects in hyperactive children. |
Parents will be furious that the FSA has chickened out of taking this vital step to protect their children Richard Watts, Children's Food Campaign | Parents will be furious that the FSA has chickened out of taking this vital step to protect their children Richard Watts, Children's Food Campaign |
But critics said it did not go far enough. | But critics said it did not go far enough. |
Several environmental and children's campaign groups, including the National Union of Teachers, called on the watchdog to extend that advice to all children. | Several environmental and children's campaign groups, including the National Union of Teachers, called on the watchdog to extend that advice to all children. |
Professor Jim Stevenson, who carried out the research, told an open meeting of the FSA board, he believed the effect of the additives posed a threat to psychological health. | Professor Jim Stevenson, who carried out the research, told an open meeting of the FSA board, he believed the effect of the additives posed a threat to psychological health. |
The FSA said the evidence was not strong enough to justify a ban and it would wait for the European Food Safety Authority to make a decision on use of additives in food. | The FSA said the evidence was not strong enough to justify a ban and it would wait for the European Food Safety Authority to make a decision on use of additives in food. |
FSA chairman Dame Deirdre Hutton told the meeting they would make current advice "more explicit" and more helpful for parents. | |
She added: "I think there is a general astonishment that industry has not responded more quickly to consumer demand in terms of taking colours out of their food." | She added: "I think there is a general astonishment that industry has not responded more quickly to consumer demand in terms of taking colours out of their food." |
Health risk | Health risk |
Richard Watts, spokesman for the Children's Food Campaign, called for the additives to be banned. | Richard Watts, spokesman for the Children's Food Campaign, called for the additives to be banned. |
"Professor Stevenson, who undertook the study on additives, told the FSA that there was the evidence necessary to ban these additives because they do pose a threat to health," he said. | "Professor Stevenson, who undertook the study on additives, told the FSA that there was the evidence necessary to ban these additives because they do pose a threat to health," he said. |
"Parents will be furious that the FSA has chickened out of taking this vital step to protect their children." | "Parents will be furious that the FSA has chickened out of taking this vital step to protect their children." |
Previous research had made a link between additives and hyperactive behaviour, but in the Southampton study researchers looked at wider age range of children not all of whom had behavioural problems. | Previous research had made a link between additives and hyperactive behaviour, but in the Southampton study researchers looked at wider age range of children not all of whom had behavioural problems. |
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 (E104) - Food colouringAllura red AC (E129) - Orange / red food dye | 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 (E104) - Food colouringAllura red AC (E129) - Orange / red food dye |
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. |
Mix "A", with the high levels of additives, had a "significantly adverse" effect on hyperactivity compared with the inactive placebo drink. | Mix "A", with the high levels of additives, had a "significantly adverse" effect on hyperactivity compared with the inactive placebo drink. |
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. |
The researchers concluded there were many influences on hyperactivity in children but additives was one factor that could be removed. | The researchers concluded there were many influences on hyperactivity in children but additives was one factor that could be removed. |
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is considering the research as a matter of urgency and will be making an initial response within the next month. | The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is considering the research as a matter of urgency and will be making an initial response within the next month. |