Following studies and new regulations, food manufactures in the EU now have to put warning labels on food and drink (non-alcoholic) that contains any of the "Southampton Six" artificial colours.
These six colours are Tartrazine (102), Quinoline yellow (104), Sunset yellow (110), Azorubine / Carmoisine (122), Ponceau 4R (124) and Allura red (129).
From July 2010, the labels must be clearly legible and must carry the warning words "May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children".
The EU, or European Union, has 27 member countries. These include Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Sweden and others.
In Britain the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is also encouraging manufacturers to find alternative ingredients to these artificial colours. Many manufacturers and retailers have therefore been removing these colours from their products voluntarily.
In addition, the British FSA is publishing lists on its website of those food product ranges that do not contain the six critical artificial colours. This is clearly a public 'pat on the back' for companies which produce foods responsibly.
Sadly the equivalent body in Australia, known as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), does not take the same view or approach as the British and European authorities and does not even appear to acknowledge the impacts that these food additives can have.
More's the pity for many children and families in Australia who feel the challenging impacts of these additives in their food and drinks. Avoiding such products is not always as easy as it sounds.
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