Food colour ban
UK ministers have agreed that six artificial food colourings should be phased out after research found a link with hyperactivity in children
The Food Standards Agency called for the voluntary removal earlier this year while European regulators work to agree a continent-wide ban. The food colourings, sunset yellow E110, carmoisine E122, Tartrazine E102, Ponceau E124, Quinoline yellow E104 and Allura Red E129, should now be phased out by 2009.
Campaigners said it was good news, although they accepted many companies have stopped using them already. The six colourings concerned are found in many products such as sweets, confectionery, processed food and takeaways.