The Food Standards Agency has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children.
The list includes companies that have product ranges which have never contained the six food colourings and companies that have reformulated their product ranges to remove the colours.
Another two companies producing product lines free of the food colours have been added to the list: Clearspring Ltd and Redwood Wholefoods Ltd.
The Agency is publicising the product ranges to encourage the food industry to participate in the voluntary ban. The voluntary ban was agreed by Ministers in November 2008.
The six food colours that could trigger hyperactivity
The six food colourings associated with possible hyperactivity in young children, identified by a Southampton University study financed by the Food Standards Agency, are:
- sunset yellow FCF (E110)
- quinoline yellow (E104)
- carmoisine (E122)
- allura red (E129)
- tartrazine (E102)
- ponceau 4R (E124)
Consumers who are particularly concerned about the presence of the colours should continue to check labels, especially in the case of products with a long shelf-life, where the availability of reformulated products may vary.
Companies with products not using the six food colours
Food manufacturers, retailers and caterers who have notified the Agency that their brands or products are free of these food colours are:
- Caterers and restaurants with product ranges free from the six colours
- Food retailers with product ranges free from the six colours
- Food manufacturers with product ranges free from the six colours
For the latest and additional information see the sections in Safety and Hygiene on the Food Standards Agency website.
Caterers and food retailers or manufacturers wanting Food Safety advice and guidance can contact Acorn Health and Safety.
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