In a six-week study funded by the the Food Standards Agency (FSA), researchers at Southampton University gave 153 three-year-olds and 144 eight- to nine-year-olds drinks containing a combination of additives that reflected the average daily additive intake of a British child. The substances they tested are commonly found in soft drinks, confectionery and ice cream (see box).
For the first time the trial showed adverse effects in children in the general population, not just those diagnosed with ADHD, as in previous studies.
This finding supports claims first made by scientist Ben Feingold following a study more than 30 years ago.
Children were given two different mixes of varying quantities with different additives. For three-year-olds they were roughly the same size as two 56g bags of sweets.
Dr Andrew Wadge, chief scientist at the FSA, said, 'If a child shows signs of hyperactivity or ADHD, then eliminating the colours used in the Southampton study from their diet may have beneficial effects. By law, food additives must be listed on the label so parents can make the choice to avoid the product if they want to.'
He added, 'There are many factors associated with hyperactive behaviour in children. These are thought to include genetic factors, being born prematurely, or environment and upbringing.'
The FSA has sent the results to the European Commission, which is reviewing the safety of food colourings, to assess whether regulatory controls should be imposed.
Norway, Sweden, the United States and Japan have already banned carmoisine (E122) and quinoline (E104) is banned in Japan, Norway, the US and Australia.
But food campaigners said the FSA response was inadequate, and that it could be many years before EU states agree a common policy.
Sally Bunday, founder and director of the Hyperactive Children's Support Group, said, 'The Government should ban these artificial colours for the sake of children's health and well-being. We have worked with parents for 30 years and they have told us their lives have been transformed by simple changes in diet. It's unfair that parents are left to scrutinise food labels. The food labelling system is also confusing, with the traffic light system and amounts of fat and sugar on the front, and food additives right at the end of the ingredients list at the back.'
Garry Holmes, owner of Stepping Stones Day Nursery, Nottingham, said, 'This study confirms what many parents realised a long time ago. Lots of parents have already restricted their children's intake of additives.
'All of our nursery food is freshly prepared, and the children at our nursery generally are very well-behaved, something Ofsted has noted.'
ADDITIVES WHERE IT IS FOUND POSSIBLE EFFECT
The E number
E110 Sunset Yellow squashes, Doritos hyperactivity, nausea,
congested sinuses
E102 tartrazine lollies, fizzy hyperactivity, allergic
drinks, mushy peas reactions
E122 carmoisine jellies hyperactivity, mild rashes
E124 ponceau 4R Fanta hyperactivity, allergic
reactions
E211 sodium benzoate Sprite allergic reactions
E104 Quinoline Yellow Skittles hyperactivity, inflamed
skin
E129 Allura Red Hubba Bubba allergic reactions