Date Published: 2 February 2009

Companies join voluntary ban on colours associated with hyperactivity

The Agency has published a first list of product ranges from food manufacturers, caterers and retailers that have voluntarily withdrawn six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children.

The colours, identified by a Southampton University study financed by the Food Standards Agency, are:

* sunset yellow FCF (E110)
* quinoline yellow (E104)
* carmoisine (E122)
* allura red (E129)
* tartrazine (E102)
* ponceau 4R (E124)

Retailers that have produced own range product lines free from the colours include Asda, Iceland, Marks & Spencer and Tesco.

Food manufacturers producing product lines free of the colours include Asian Asset Group (Worldfoods products), Green Bay (Green Bay products), Heinz (Heinz, Weight Watchers from Heinz, HP, Lea & Perrins), Vimto Soft Drinks (Vimto drinks, Panda drinks, Sunkist drinks). Restaurants complying with the voluntary ban include McDonald's (McDonald's own brand food and drinks).

The Agency is publicising the product ranges to encourage the food industry to participate in the voluntary ban. The voluntary ban was agreed to by Ministers late last year.

Consumers who are particularly concerned about the presence of the colours will be advised to continue to check labels, especially in the case of products with a long shelf-life where the availability of reformulated products may vary.

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