In an open letter to its Board, 35 organisations have attacked the Food Standard's Agency for failing to put consumers first and protect children's health from artificial food additives.
The letter was coordinated by the Children's Food Campaign and signed by leading expert groups such as the National Children's Bureau, National Union of Teachers, the Royal Society of Health, the Hyperactive Children's Support Group and Netmums. It was also signed by Professor Erik Millstone, a distinguished additives expert, and children's food campaigner, Mary Creagh MP.
It tells the FSA that it is unfair to put the burden for avoiding these additives on parents. Instead they should simply ban the six artificial colours found to contribute to hyperactivity.
The letter also questions the FSA over the difference between the findings of Professor Stevenson's study, which applies to all children, and the Agency's advice which only applies to children who are predisposed to hyperactivity.
Richard Watts, coordinator of the Children's Food Campaign said: "given the proof that these artificial additives are harmful, it is ridiculous for the FSA to put the burden on parents to try to cut these additives out of their children's food. Their advice that parents should just read the label of products is ridiculous. Many foods containing these additives do not have labels at all, like sweets and ice cream. They are kidding themselves if they think that parents can scan every label of everything they buy to see if it will make their child hyperactive.
He continued: "The FSA should immediately take every step possible to ban these unnecessary artificial colourings from our food."
Ends.
For further information please contact Richard Watts on 0203 5596 777 or on 07710 782719.
Notes to editors:
- Download the letter and full list of signatories. Download letter as 76kb PDF
- The Children's Food Campaign wants to improve children's health and well-being through better food - and food teaching - in schools, and protecting children from junk food marketing. We are supported by over 300 organisations, almost 300 MPs and 12,000 members of the public. We were behind the ground-breaking Children's Food Bill introduced into Parliament last year. The Children's Food Campaign is coordinated by Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming. Find out more at: http://www.childrensfoodcampaign.org.uk/
Children's Food Campaign: Campaigning for policy changes so that all children can easily eat sustainable and healthy food.
