Common Sense on Sweets and Fizzy Drinks

‘Bright colour additives which make children hyperactive should be banned throughout the EU,’ says David Martin, Scotland’s senior MEP.

Mr Martin was speaking from the European Parliament in Brussels following a unanimous vote, by the Parliament’s Committee on Public Health and Food Safety, that if there was evidence that food additives, such as the so-called azodyes, might cause undesirable side effects, they should be banned by the European Commission working in consultation with the member states.

‘This is great news for parents and children throughout the EU,’ continued Mr Martin, ‘University studies have shown that a ‘cocktail’ of azodyes make kids hyperactive and hard to control which is not good for their home life, education or future well-being in society’.

Although a study undertaken by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) on azodyes concluded that a ban is not necessary as they did not see a risk with single azo-colourings, a British study from Southampton University showed that children who consume food containing azodyes (an additive which gives sweets and soft drinks a bright colour) can become hyperactive.

‘The problem with the EFSA study,’ explained Mr Martin, ‘is that, unlike the Southampton University study, it does not take into account the risk to children when they consume a mix of different azodyes’.

‘I believe that the Commission must follow the Precautionary Principle on food additives and call on member states not to take unnecessary risks with children’s health and future well being and ban these additives,’ concluded Mr Martin, himself the father of two young children.

Following the vote in the Committee the proposal will now go to the full July plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg for agreement before it is passed to the member states.