Action on Additives | E Numbers Increase Hyperactivity

Posted By Ina Woolcott

In September 2007 scientific research confirmed that mixtures of artificial food colourings and a commonly used food preservative can increase hyperactive behaviour in susceptible children.

HOWEVER - these additives have not yet been banned. Companies continue to use them in children's food and children's medicines. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising ministers to seek voluntary removal of the 6 artificial food colourings by 2009, but for now the food additives continue to be used. The food industry says that the additives are used in ’only’ a 'handful' of products, but this website already lists over 1,000 products found in the UK. Most of these are targeted at children.

The additives to look out for are:
* Tartrazine - E102 - artificial, yellow food colouring
* Quinoline yellow - E104 - artificial, yellow food colouring
* Sunset yellow - E110 - artificial, orange / yellow food colouring
* Carmoisine - E122 - artificial, red food colouring
* Ponceau 4R - E124 - artificial, red food colouring
* Allura red - E129 - artificial red food colouring
* Sodium benzoate - E211 - artificial preservative

To find out more information and also if you know of a product which contains the above mentioned food additives, please add it to this website : Action on Additives using the form found further down the page.