Possible Health Effects
On September 6, 2007, the British Food Standards Agency revised advice on certain artificial food additives, including tartrazine.
Professor Jim Stevenson from Southampton University, an author of the report, said: "This has been a major study investigating an important area of research. The results suggest that consumption of certain mixtures of artificial food colours and sodium benzoate preservative are associated with increases in hyperactive behaviour in children.
"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."
The following additives were tested in the research:
- Sunset yellow (E110) (FD&C Yellow #6) - Coloring found in squashes
- Carmoisine (E122) - Red coloring in jellies
- Tartrazine (E102) (FD&C Yellow #5) - Yellow coloring
- Ponceau 4R (E124) - Red coloring
- Sodium benzoate (E211) - Preservative
- Quinoline yellow (E104) - Food coloring
- Allura red AC (E129) (FD&C Red #40) - Orange / red food dye
On April 10, 2008, the Food Standards Agency called for a voluntary removal of the colors (but not sodium benzoate) by 2009. In addition, it recommended that there should be action to phase them out in food and drink in the European Union (EU) over a specified period.
UK ministers have agreed that the six colorings will be phased out by 2009.(Needs an update, it's 2012)
Read more about this topic: Tartrazine
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