News • Children's Food Campaign
Sustain: 'Remove these harmful additives now'
Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming today reacted with anger to EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority)'s lack of action in the face of compelling evidence that some artificial food additives can damage children's health.
Sustain's Campaigns Director, Richard Watts, said: "It would be unthinkable for no significant action to be taken as a result of the Southampton Study. No one now disputes that these artificial additives pose a threat to children's health and well being. Given EFSA have let down consumers, our own Food Standards Agency (FSA) must now act to remove them from the food chain."
He continued: "Over 1000 products containing these additives have now been found the UK. This explodes the myth that the food industry is working to solve this problem. The FSA must now act."
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For further information, please contact Richard Watts on 07710 782719.
Notes to editors:
EFSA were asked to comment on the Southampton Study, led by Professor Jim Stevenson, in October 2007. The Southampton Study was commission by the FSA to investigate whether certain artificial food additives did increase hyperactivity in children. Only EFSA have the power to ban additives across the EU. The additives studied were:
The Southampton Study found that mixtures of artificial additives can increase hyperactive behaviour in children.
http://www.actiononadditives.com/
Published Friday 14 March 2008
Children's Food Campaign: Better food and food teaching for children in schools, and protection of children from junk food marketing are the aims of Sustain's high-profile Children's Food Campaign. We also want clear food labelling that can be understood by everyone, including children.
