Confectionery firms ditch colours linked to hyperactivity

Cloetta and Tangerine Confectionery are the latest food manufacturers to remove six food colours that are possibly associated with hyperactivity from their products.

They were identified as a possible link to hyperactivity by a Southampton University study in 2007, financed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The six colours are: Sunset Yellow FCF (E110), Quinoline Yellow (E104), Carmoisine (E122), Allura Red (E129), Tartrazine (E102) and Ponceau 4R (E124).

Cloetta’s Chewits and Tangerine Confectionery’s Candyland lines no longer include the colours in their products.

Voluntary ban

The FSA is publicising product ranges that do not contain the six food colours, which were placed under a voluntary ban agreed by European ministers in November 2008.

The FSA has urged any food manufacturer, retailer or caterer to come forward if its brands or food and drink products are free of the six colours.