Food colourings a rainbow of risks

by Dr Joanna McMillan
in Current news stories
19 Jul 2010 | 2 Comments

The CPSI in the US have released a new report "A Rainbow of Risks" which outlines the potential risks of artificial food colourings used in over a thousand of our foods. Included in this are the so-called Southhampton 6 E numbers 110, 122, 102, 124, 104 and 129 which were linked to behavioural problems in children last year. But also now includes links to cancer with Blue 2 (E132), Red 3 (E127), Red 40 (E129) and yellow 6 (E110). The studies are in rodents and so not proof of an effect in humans, but are we really going to wait for conclusive evidence before we act? One of the findings was that it is not just the dyes themselves, but several were found to have carcinogenic contaminants. These dyes are not necessary in our food chain, they are only there to make food look more enticing, particularly to children. My view is that they should be removed from foods and natural colours should be used in their place if colours are necessary at all. As consumers, and especially those of us who are parents, we should act and vote with our wallets - don't buy any food or drink with ANY artificial colours. If we don't buy them they'll stop making them. What do you think?

Watch my report on TODAY

Comments (2)

Thank you, that was extremely valuable and interesting...I will be back again to read more on this topic.

6 Sep 2010, Payday Loans, http://www.discountaydayloans.org

I couldn't agree more Joanna. Change will only come if we, the consumers, drive it.

How about creating a busness card size dowload that lists all the additives we should be avoiding? We could pop it into our wallets and use it as a quick reference guide when shopping. Sometimes it's hard to tell from the label whether a colouring is artificial or not.

Thanks for all your fabulous work and advice.

10 Aug 2010, Barb Blashki, www.igiveabuck.org.au

Food colourings a rainbow of risks

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