E Number Warning

Parents have been advised to eliminate certain foods, widely-used preservatives, and food colourings from their children’s diets, in advance of a new study that is understood to link them to behavioural problems. Researchers at Southhampton University who tested the effects of several E numbers commonly found in processed foods and fizzy drinks have apparently concluded that they increase the likelihood of children having temper tantrums, and suffering poor concentration.

These findings have been reviewed by the Food Standards Authority, which commissioned the study, but they cannot be released or acted upon until the research is published in the medical journal. According to a report in The Guardian, independent experts think parents should remove the additives in question from their children’s diets now.

The additives were:

Tartrazine (E102)

Quinoline Yellow (E122)

Sunset Yellow (E110)

Ponceau 4R (E124)

Allura Red (E129)

The Preservative was:

Sodium Benzoate (E211)

Photo by Leanne

Source: “The Week” www.theweek.co.uk

Useful links

Food Standards Authority http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/

Maurice Hanssen's book, 'E for Additives', published in 1984 http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books-uk&field-keywords=e%20for%20additives&results-process=default&dispatch=search/ref=pd_sl_aw_tops-2_books-uk_6572184_1&results-process=default