Synthetic Food Colouring and Kids
Synthetic food colouring intake has increased 500% since 1955. The vast majority of products containing food dyes are targeted at children.
What is synthetic food colouring?
Synthetic or artificial food colours are added to food to improve appeal and sense of flavour. Most synthetic food dyes are derived from petroleum, or crude oil.
Synthetic colours are used in preference to natural colours because:
They stay vibrant in a range of storage conditions without fading over time.
They are cheaper to manufacture.
Are they safe?
Synthetic food colours are assessed for safety by Food Standards Australia New Zealand before they are permitted to be added to our food. Safe levels are determined by calculating the “acceptable daily intake” (ADI). The ADI tells us how much of a specific food additive we can safely eat each day, throughout our life.
The topic of artificial colours and saftey, particularly around hyperactivity in children was heavily studied in the 1980s, and then again in more recent years. Studies have produced mixed and inconsistent results, mostly as a result of poor study designs.
Tartrazine (E102) a bright lemon yellow synthetic food colour that has been linked to adverse reactions like asthma, rashes, itching/hives and headaches (PMC 3894321)
"Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population."
The ‘Southampton Six’ are six food colours that were linked to hyperactivity in children in a study funded by the UK Food Standards Agency in 2007. A review by the European Food Safety Association (EFSA), which included the Southampton six, concluded that the available evidence did not indicate a causal link between exposure to the colours and effects on behaviour.
BUT despite this, does now require that all products containing any of the Southampton six colours, must clearly be labelled with the following statement: “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”.The ADIs for three of the Southampton Six colours (E104, E124 and E110) have been lowered by EFSA.
NZ & Australia have no such regulations or restrictions.
The Southhampton Six
E102 TARTRAZINE: Fairy floss, pastries, cakes, biscuits, caramel, ice-cream cones, cocktail onions, gherkins, pickles, chocolates, butterscotch, liquorice, jelly beans, jelly babies, and flavoured mineral water, soda and alcohol.
E104 QUINOLINE YELLOW: Lollies, liquorice, lemon sherbet, flavoured soda, mouthwash, medications.
E110 SUNSET YELLOW Cakes, biscuits, flavoured mineral water, custard mixes, chocolates, jelly babies, ice-creams, iceblocks, meat pies, pizza.
E122 CARMOISINE: Prawn crackers, flavoured milk, sundaes, ice-cream, cordials, jam rolls, biscuits, lollies, marshmallows, musk sticks, strawberry topping.
E124 PONCEAU 4R: Jam, curry paste, ice-cream, flavoured milk, instant pudding, Turkish delight, chocolates, musk sticks, jelly beans, jelly babies, pizza.
E129 ALLURA RED: Custard powder, chocolates, lollies, chewing gum, flavoured alcohol, milkshakes, sundaes, muesli bars, glazed cherries, medications.
The Takeaway
More research is needed to be able to make a causative link between synthetic food colours and hyperactivity in children. BUT for my family, I choose to avoid synthetic food dyes when I can, especially because natural food colours are becoming more and more readily available eg. turmeric 100, beet red 162 & blackcurrant extract 163.
If you can, avoid synthetic food colouring and opt for natural colours.
Let's not forget the power of the consumer! If people stop buying products with colourings and preservatives, manufacturers will stop using them!
