Food colouring low in Aussie kids diets,study finds
UK authorities this year banned six yellow, orange and red food colourings commonly found in lollies, processed and takeaway foods after research found they were affecting behaviour.
A follow-up study by Australian scientists released on Thursday found that food eaten here was less colouring-heavy than the UK.
“The survey found that the concentrations of added colours in foods in Australia are very low, mostly less than 25 per cent of the maximum permitted levels,” said Dr Paul Brent, chief scientist at Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
The UK study found a concentration of 67mg/kg of lemon yellow colour, tartrazine, in confectionery but Australian-sold sweets measured just 10 mg/kg, Dr Brent said.
“Australian children are also consuming food colours at much lower levels than the amounts used in the UK Southampton study,” he said.
“For example, on average, six- to 12-year-olds in Australia are consuming the food colour tartrazine at 14 per cent of the amount used for eight- to nine-year-olds in the UK study and are consuming the colour sunset yellow at 21 per cent of the amounts used in the UK study.”
It was unlikely colours consumed at these levels could affect behaviour or pose any public health or safety risk.
However, he said, it was recognised that colours in any quantity could trigger adverse reactions like rashes, headaches and behavioural changes in some people.
“Parents can use food label information to identify when the additives included in the UK study are in their child’s diet, but it should not be assumed that simply taking these additives out of a child’s diet will eliminate these symptoms,” Dr Brent said.
“If you think you or your child has a food intolerance we recommend you seek advice from a medical practitioner or accredited practising dietitian.”
The colourings are Sunset yellow (E110), the red colourings Carmoisine (E122) and Ponceau 4R (E124), the new colouring Tartrazine (E102) found in lollies and soft drinks, Quinoline yellow (E104), and Allura red AC (E129), an orange/red food dye
