| Hi Folks, | | | | thought to cause allergic or intolerance problems, |
| OK so I know that I am always encouraging you | | | | particularly in asthmatics; somehow it doesn't |
| to make fresh healthy food yourselves, but let's | | | | sound so harmless when you know the details. |
| face it, sometimes there isn't enough time in the | | | | Several colours are of animal origin, and |
| day. I want to talk about things that you will | | | | vegetarians may wish to avoid them, such as |
| commonly find in your ready made food; what | | | | E170 Calcium Carbonate, found in toothpaste, |
| they are, and what they means to your health; | | | | canned fruit, vegetables and wines, which can be |
| this way you can make an informed choice about | | | | sourced from animal bones (or rock minerals), or |
| what to pick up and more importantly what to | | | | E120 Cochineal which rather charmingly is made |
| put down. | | | | from insects- yummy. |
| So what is an additive? It is something added to | | | | Out of the 45 E numbered colourings, only six |
| your food to make it last longer, taste better, | | | | have no reported side effects. Many of the side |
| look palatable, make it easier to manufacture, or | | | | effects are anecdotal, although the sheer number |
| cheaper to produce. Within the European Union | | | | of people reporting them is surely an indication |
| additives are labeled with an E number which | | | | that something is wrong. Many studies have linked |
| means that the additive has been accepted by | | | | colourings to health problems, particularly in |
| the European Community. Many of these officially | | | | children, although the findings are often rejected |
| sanctioned products are still banned in some EU | | | | by the Food Agencies. One British study found |
| countries, and also in Scandinavia, Russia and | | | | that a quarter of toddlers suffered adverse |
| Australia. If a number appears without an E then | | | | effects after consuming foods containing 3 food |
| it has not been cleared for use by the European | | | | colourings. Although these additives have been |
| Community, but may be used in the UK. In the | | | | tested for 'safety', it is curious that many |
| US a different system is used which includes | | | | countries still do not think them safe enough to |
| numbers instead, although the additives are the | | | | use in their food. The additives have also never |
| same. The food and governmental bodies have | | | | been tested for safety in combination with other |
| said for years that the range of additives are | | | | additives although they are rarely used alone. |
| safe for human consumption, however, as you | | | | Just for fun, here is the low-down on the colours |
| can see many countries cannot agree about what | | | | inside a packet of a popular multi-coloured |
| is and isn't safe. | | | | chocolate bean; a favorite children's treat;o E110 |
| Over the years some additives have been | | | | (sunset Yellow), banned in Norway and widely |
| withdrawn due to health scares; 28 food additives | | | | found in sweets, pies, cakes, sauces, puddings, |
| (including the infamous Sudan 1) have been | | | | canned fish, ice cream, jelly, cheese sauce etc; |
| banned, mostly because they carry a cancer risk, | | | | urticaria (hives), runny nose, nasal congestion, |
| or contribute to organ damage. 15 of the 28 | | | | allergies, hyperactivity, kidney tumors, |
| banned were food colorings. Out of 45 current | | | | chromosomal damage, abdominal pain, nausea and |
| E-numbered colourings, 23 are banned in one or | | | | vomiting, indigestion, increased incidence of tumors |
| more countries, and yet available in the UK. A | | | | in animals.o E171 Titanium dioxide a white colouring |
| further 21 colourings are recommended to be | | | | known to pollute waterways, but with no |
| avoided by the Hyperactive Children's Support | | | | reported effects in humans.o E104 Quinoline |
| Group, along with 49 other E-numbered food | | | | Yellow, can cause dermatitis; banned in USA and |
| additives (including sweeteners) linked with | | | | Norway. It is recommended by several |
| behavioral problems in children- and also commonly | | | | organisations that this colour is avoided by |
| found in children's foods. | | | | children.o E124 Ponceau a synthetic red colour |
| We will start this week with food colourings; | | | | derived from coal tar; carcinogenic |
| these are added to make our food look more | | | | (cancer-causing) in animals, also can produce bad |
| interesting and palatable. Often these are added in | | | | reactions in asthmatics and people allergic to |
| large amounts to children's food, as they make | | | | aspirin; banned in USA & Norway. It is |
| the food look more exciting. Unfortunately, many | | | | recommended by several organisations that this |
| colours are linked to hyperactivity and behavioral | | | | colour is avoided by children.o E122 Azorubine, |
| problems in children as well as a host of other | | | | Carmoisine a red colour derived from coal tar; can |
| problems such as eczema and asthma. E Numbers | | | | produce bad reactions in asthmatics and people |
| 100-181 are all colours. Often they will be given | | | | allergic to aspirin; banned in Sweden, USA, Austria |
| their number and name, which can make is easier | | | | and Norway. It is recommended by several |
| for you to identify them. Some of these are | | | | organisations that this colour is avoided by |
| made from natural plant products, for example | | | | children.o E133 Brilliant blue an aluminium or |
| E162 or Betanin is made from beetroot and has | | | | ammonium salt; banned in Belgium, France, |
| no known side-effects. Being vegetable in origin | | | | Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Norway. |
| does not always make an additive safe; E123 | | | | It is recommended by several organisations that |
| (Amaranth) a red colour is derived from a small | | | | this colour is avoided by children.o E120 Cochineal, |
| plant, and is banned in USA, Russia, Austria, | | | | a red colour; made from insects; the hyperactive |
| Norway and other countries and found in jellies, | | | | children's support group recommends that this |
| sweets, cake mixes, and fruit fillings. It is known | | | | colour is avoided. It is recommended by several |
| to provoke asthma, eczema, and hyperactivity, | | | | organisations that this colour is avoided by children. |
| possibly to increase risk of certain cancers, and in | | | | The chances are that when you are buying |
| animal experiments caused birth defects, and | | | | sweets, cakes- any manner of ready made food, |
| foetal deaths. | | | | you will be buying products which contain |
| Others have names which sound natural but are | | | | colourings. You may decide that the evidence is |
| not, for example E150 or Caramel; the most | | | | unconvincing, or you may decide that it is not |
| commonly used group of colours, found in a wide | | | | worth risking the harmful effects, especially with |
| range of foods,; beer, sauces, puddings, sweets, | | | | your family. There is little doubt now that many |
| kids food, chocolate, buns. This group comprises | | | | children are adversely affected by food |
| E150a, b, c, and d also named, plain caramel, | | | | colourings, and several Local Education Authorities |
| Caustic Sulphite caramel, Ammonia Caramel and | | | | in the UK are attempting to ban food colourings |
| Sulphite Ammonia Caramel-( I am not sure I like | | | | from their school meals and machines. The good |
| the sound of 'caustic' or 'ammonia' in my food). | | | | news is that you can avoid them by selecting |
| The UK food guide and the Hyperactive Children's | | | | products marked 'no artificial colours,' by buying |
| Support Group recommend that these colours are | | | | organic products, or by getting the raw |
| not given to children, but you will find them in | | | | ingredients and making things yourselves. |
| many kids' foods and drinks. | | | | I do hope that this will encourage you to look on |
| Some of the numbers have names which make | | | | the backs of food packaging, and check what lies |
| them sound rather harmless; E155 or Chocolate | | | | within. Even if you cannot avoid these nasties all |
| Brown HT, sounds almost delicious until you | | | | of the time, it may be a good idea to steer clear |
| discover that this colour, often found in chocolate | | | | of them where possible, especially in what you |
| cake, and chocolate cake mix, is derived from | | | | feed to children and teenagers. |
| coal tar, is not recommended for consumption by | | | | For a full list of additives, colourings, sweeteners |
| children, and is banned in Australia, Austria, | | | | and flavourings write to:- Hyperactive Children's |
| Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, | | | | Support Group at 71 Whyke Lane, Chichester |
| Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. It is | | | | PO19 7PD or Telephone 01243 551313. |