Scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), who are reviewing recent British research into a possible link between certain food and beverage additives and hyperactivity in children, expect to reach their official conclusions by the end of January.
EFSA has already completed an initial consideration of the research and decided a “further detailed assessment” is necessary. The EU authority says it will call on the help of additional scientists and “clinicians with expertise in child psychology and behaviour, allergy and analysis of clinical trials.”
The research was carried out by scientists at Southampton University in the UK, working for the British Food Standards Agency (FSA). The researchers studied the effects of a number of common colourants, in combination with the preservative sodium benzoate (E211), on one group of three year old children and a second group aged from eight to nine years.
Colourants used in the study were: Sunset yellow (E110), Quinoline yellow (E104), Carmoisine (E122), Allura red (E129), Tartrazine (E102) and Ponceau 4R (E124).
Results
The results appeared to suggest that some colourants could contribute to hyperactivity, the FSA announced in September. The FSA advised parents of hyperactive children to avoid giving them food or drink containing any of these additives and said it was passing the research to EFSA for further consideration.
In response, spokesmen for the food and beverage industry noted that all the named colourants had been approved by the FSA – but added that many manufacturers were already eliminating such additives from their products. Some consumer groups criticised the FSA for not introducing an immediate ban on the colourants.
The Southampton research is undergoing detailed analysis by a special panel of EFSA experts, which was already conducting a review of all colourants approved for use in the EU, prior to making official recommendations to the European Commission. The panel has now prioritised the six colours used in the British study.
Official statement
In an official statement issued from its headquarters in Parma, Italy, EFSA said: “The panel has identified a number of central issues which it will study in depth, including the robustness of the study design and methodology, the statistical analysis, the role of genetic predisposition and the clinical significance of the findings for individuals or the population in general.
“Examination of these aspects will enable the panel to assess the implications of the findings, and their relevance for drawing definitive conclusions on cause and effect and the possible role of particular colours. The panel has noted that the study carried out by Southampton University is the largest conducted so far on whether certain food additives may affect behaviour in children and has the potential to shed new light on this important question.”
In the UK, meanwhile, the FSA held a meeting with public interest groups and industry representatives including the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) and the Food and Drink Federation, to discuss what further action might be taken in advance of any decision by the EU authorities. In particular, the FSA was urged to make the additives section of its [website][1] more user friendly, enabling parents to identify the colourants in question and navigate through links to detailed product information.
“Those food industry representatives present described the actions they had taken in respect to additives, including those colours used in the study,” said the FSA. “Some reported significant progress in removing a number of artificial colours used in the study; others were able to report on plans in place to reformulate products within a specific timeframe. This information will be used as part of a discussion planned to take place at the agency’s February 2008 open Board meeting.”
[1]: http://www.food.gov.uk
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