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A report
published recently by The Food Magazine reveals that several
preservatives and colourings, which are regularly used in food and
drink products, are supposed to carry health warnings when used in
medicines for human consumption. The additives, some of which have
already been linked to behavioural problems in children, do not have
to carry any warnings when used in foods and drinks.
Despite
government and industry statements that the additives are
"safe", medicines warn that the additives may cause
"allergic reactions", "mild irritation to the skin,
eyes and mucous membranes" and possible "severe
hypersensitivity reactions."
We are exposed
to much greater quantities of food additives in our daily food and
drink compared to medicines, which most of us consume infrequently,
but food labels give no warnings for these additives. Medical
guidelines say that a warning should be given when these additives
are used at even the lowest of levels, with anything over
"zero" requiring a warning.
Ian Tokelove,
a spokesperson for The Food Magazine, commented, "The
Government and the food industry continue to assure us that all food
additives are safe for us to eat, but here we have clear medical
guidelines which state that over a dozen common additives should
carry a health warning. For many people the additives appear to pose
no immediate risk, but better labelling would ensure that susceptible
adults and children would at least have a chance of identifying, and
avoiding, the additives that may cause them harm."
When used in
medicines, warnings are given for artificial colourings such as E102
(tartrazine), E110 (sunset yellow) and E124 (ponceau red) and for
preservatives such as E211 (sodium benzoate), E220 (sodium dioxide)
and E223 (sodium metabisulphite).
These
additives are used in a wide range of products, including cakes,
sweets, fruit squashes and soft drinks such as Irn-Bru (E110, E124,
E211); Lucozade Energy (E110, E211, E222), Diet Coke (E211); Fanta
Orange (E211); Sprite (E211); Dr Pepper (E211); Vimto squash and
Vimto Fizzy (E211); Ribena squash (E211, E222) and Robinsons Orange
squash (E223).
The additive
health warnings displayed on medicines (but not on foods or drinks)
Colourings:
E102 (tartrazine); E110 (sunset yellow); E122 (azorubine,
carmoisine); E123 (amaranth); E124 (ponceau 4R red, cochineal red A)
and E151 (brilliant black BN, black PN).
Warning:
May cause allergic reactions.
Preservatives:
E210 (benzoic acid); E211 (sodium benzoate) and E212 (potassium
benzoate).
Warning: Mildly
irritant to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes
Preservatives:
E220 (sulphur dioxide); E221 (sodium sulphite); E222 (sodium
bisulphite); E223 (sodium metabisulphite); E224 (potassium
metabisulphite) and E228 (potassium bisulphite)
Warning: May
rarely cause severe hypersensitivity reactions and bronchospasm
(difficulty in breathing).
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