Should we ban artificial colours?
7 April 2011 – The Food and Drug administration has recently voted that foods containing artificial colours do not need to carry warning labels.
The vote followed The Centre for Science in the Public Interest wanting to ban blue, green, orange, red and yellow artificial food colourings, due to the fact that they believe these colourings may negatively affect those children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
At present, manufacturers must list food colourings on the ingredients label but do not have to state warnings.
Many confectionery companies have already stopped using artificial colours due to consumer demand, however there are challenges associated with reformulating to natural colours. Natural colours are less stable and are more likely to be affected by pH, light, oxygen and heat.
I think it is important to note that artificial colours have only been shown to effect a small percentage of the child population, only those with ADHD. So, unless further studies are done that prove that these colours could effect all children, then a ban should not take place. Forcing manufacturers to print warning labels on any foods containing artificial colours, will only mislead consumers.
What do you think?
