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Soft drinks told to carry warning on hyperactivity
Publish Date: Sunday,25 July, 2010, at 12:26 PM Doha Time
By Martin Hickman/The Independent, London
The makers of two of Britain's best-selling soft drinks, Lucozade and Irn-Bru,
have been forced to warn parents that the drinks may cause hyperactivity. A
newly-introduced European Union law compels both drinks to display a warning
that they contain artificial colours linked to behavioural problems in young
children.
Manufacturers were asked to remove the colours two years ago by the Food
Standards Agency (FSA) following a study which found they worsened the
behaviour of young children, but some firms still use them because they make
their products more attractive to shoppers.
Lucozade Original's lurid yellow appearance comes from sunset yellow, or E110,
while Irn-Bru's distinctive orange glow comes from sunset yellow and a red
colouring, ponceau 4R (E124).
Both also contain sodium benzoate (E211), a preservative that was among seven
additives found to cause hyperactivity by Southampton University, but which is
not covered by the EU rule. Lucozade's owner GlaxoSmithKline previously warned
shoppers about sunset yellow voluntarily, but now it and Irn-Bru's maker AG
Barr have to state that the additives "may have effects on activity and
attention in children".
The new law, introduced last week, is the latest development in a decades-long
row over an emerging and strengthening link between artificial additives and
hyperactivity. In 2007, in the biggest study of its kind, Southampton
University gave a mix of seven additives - sunset yellow, ponceau 4R,
tartrazine (E102), quinoline yellow (E104), carmoisine (E122), allura red
(E129), and sodium benzoate - to three- and eight-year-old children.
Assessments by parents and teachers and computer tests indicated that the
children who consumed them had a small reduction in attention span, with some
individuals becoming significantly more hyperactive. As a result, the FSA
called for a "voluntary ban" on the six colours, but they are still found in
sweets and soft drinks.
"Over the past few years, the agency has worked with the food industry to
voluntarily remove the six colours from food and drink, and make this
information available to consumers," the FSA said. "But the mandatory warning
will make it easier for people to choose products free from these colours." All
food and drinks below 1.2% alcohol have to display the warning, but shops can
still sell old stock produced before the law came into force. Lucozade and
Irn-Bru are among the UK's biggest brands, with sales of £334mn and £95mn
respectively.
GlaxoSmithKline uses a natural colour, beta carotene, for orange Lucozade and
other drinks in the range do not contain sunset yellow. GSK said: "We are
committed to finding an alternative to sunset yellow and have invested
significantly in exploring viable alternative formulations that will not affect
the look, taste or aroma of Lucozade Original that consumers tell us they love.
We are making significant progress and our efforts continue." The firm added it
did not market the drink to children.
AG Barr said: "As a responsible soft-drinks business, we are fully committed to
replacing two food colours in our products in line with FSA guidelines, and we
have been working hard to achieve this for the past two years. With Irn-Bru,
the programme is going well; however, it is taking longer because it is a
unique product and a unique colour."
Jackie Schneider, co-ordinator of the Children's Food Campaign, said: "I can't
imagine a good reason why they are still using these additives. It's completely
irresponsible. We would rather they didn't use them, but if they do, they
should be clearly labelled." The part-time primary school teacher added: "These
sports drinks used to be drunk by teenagers but now it's not uncommon to see
very young children with Lucozade. They don't seem to be marketed at children
but they are linked to sporting activities."
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