A study published in The Lancet in September 2007 concluded that cocktails of six artificial food colours – Allura Red (E128), Ponceau 4R (E124), Quinoline Yellow (E104), Sunset Yellow (E110), Tartrazine (E102), and Azorubine/Carmoisine (E122) – and sodium benzoate were linked to hyperactivity in children. These are the so-called Southampton colours. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has lowered the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for three of these food colours. As it happens, none of the scientific reasons given are associated with hyperactivity.
After its initial review of the study, the EFSA issued an opinion that this study gave no grounds for changing the ADI of any of the colours. This was largely based on the opinion that the methodology made it impossible to attribute the observed effect to any of the chemicals in particular.
Following a further requested review the additives panel again found no reason to lower the ADI of any of the colours based on the Southampton study and other studies on the colours independently.
However the review did find some evidence that warranted lowering the ADIs for Ponceau 4R, Quinoline Yellow and Sunset Yellow on different grounds.
For Quinoline Yellow, the ADI has been lowered from 0-10mg per kg of bodyweight a day (mg/kg bw/day) to 0.5 mg/kg bw/day. This was because it uncovered a rat study on the long-term effects on reproduction and development of pups that was not taken into account for the original level.
For Ponceau 4R, the ADI has been lowered from 0-4 mg/kg bw/day to 0.7 mg/kg bw/day. This is based on a 1974 mouse study which saw a connection with non-inflammatory kidney disease.
For Sunset Yellow, the ADI has been lowered from 0-2.25 mg/kg bw/day to 1.0 mg/kg bw/day, based on evidence for an effect on the testes of rats. This is a temporary new ADI for a two-year period, however, since the studies of concern did not look at testes histopathology, sperm morphology or mobility.
The new ADIs were determined based on the toxicity levels observed in the animal studies, with a wide safety margin built in for humans. Although in relation to the other three Southampton colours the review did show up some evidence on intolerance reactions, such as skin irritations in a small part of the population, these effects were not considered grave enough to change intake advice.
Notwithstanding the repeated conclusion that the Southampton colours are not linked to hyperactivity, the use of warning labels about a hyperactivity link for products containing any of the Southampton colours will be mandatory from July 2010. The European Parliament decided to include this label in the new additives regulation despite EFSA’s opinion on the Southampton study.
Of course the safest level of these colour additives is zero. While regulators and industry influenced review panels determine that the colours may be safely added to foods, intelligent consumers will vote for family health with their wallets and purses. The sad reality is that not everywhere enjoys effective labelling laws or effective safety monitoring and not all consumers are equipped to make informed selections.
At least some progress is being made in Europe. That’s something.
Tags: food colouring, hyperactivity, Ponceau 4R (E124), Quinoline Yellow (E104), Sunset Yellow (E110)