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Did you know? There are no guidelines that manufacturers of foods and drinks marketed at children have to adhere to in terms of the maximum levels of sugar, saturated fat and salt or additives such as colourings, flavourings and preservatives. There are very strict guidelines governing foods prepared for children and babies under 12 months (i.e. weaning foods) but once a child is beyond this stage products marketed at them can contain any of the 500 approved E numbers and any quantities of sugar, fat and salt as is found in adult products.
The E prefix means that the additive has been approved for use in foods by the European Union i.e. it has been tested and deemed safe for use in foods and drinks. Not all additives are ‘bad’ in fact the majority are pretty neutral and play a role in food safety, food aesthetics and flavour or increase shelf life. A few may actually be beneficial for the body.
However, some research studies have seemed to show a possible link between certain additives and adverse reactions in particular behavioural changes in children, eczema, asthma. Much of the evidence is fairly anecdotal but one study conducted by Southampton University published in The Lancet in 2007 did conclude than behavioural changes seem in children were linked to combinations of six azo dye food colourings and one preservative. In response to this study the Food Standards Authority and the European Food Standards Authority have now released new guidelines on the 6 azo dyes that any product containing these must be labelled with the warning ‘May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. Does this really go far enough when you consider that these are not essential ingredients in the products and could be very easily removed? Instead any parent worried about these colourings will have to check labels pretty vigilantly to spot them.
The 6 food colours to watch out for are:
E110 Sunset Yellow
E104 Quinoline Yellow
E122 Carmoisine
E129 Allura Red
E102 Tartrazine
E124 Ponceau Red
Common Sources of these are cake mixes, sweets, soft drinks and children’s medicines (both OTC and prescription).
The preservative to watch out for is:
E211 Sodium benzoate
Found in cordials, squashes, fizzy drinks, children’s medicines
Flavourings
More than 2,500 flavourings many artificial are allowed to be added to foods and drinks and as they are governed by different laws than E numbers all that has to be listed on the ingredients label is ‘Flavourings’. The term ‘Natural Flavourings’ can only be used when the flavouring is derived from plant or animal material. So if this term is not used then the flavourings used will be synthetic ones.
Sweeteners
Many parents report that their child’s behaviour changes after ingestion of artificial sweetners such as Aspartame, acesulfame-K found popular children’s sugar free cordials and juices. These are deemed safe at levels found in foods and drinks. However, the Food Standards Agency advises that these are diluted very well for children especially those under four years.
Manufacturers are definitely becoming more responsible with ingredients such as preservatives and colourings and opting to use natural ones rather than artificial ones.
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