| Why you and your kids should void the colour blue in | | | | deserts, cough medicines. What it is: Derived from coal |
| your food and drinks. Because there is increasing | | | | tar Effects: Linked to difficulties for asthmatics and for |
| evidence that food colourings cause hyperactivity, | | | | people allergic to aspirin, as well as being said to cause |
| reflux, and gas in children. Some people believe that | | | | hyperactivity in children |
| any parent who suspects their child's behavior and | | | | ALLURA RED: Found in: Sweets, soft drinks, and |
| health is linked to foods containing bright food | | | | condiments. What it is: Coal-tar-derived dye, often |
| colourings, such as blue, should ban these from their | | | | mixed with yellow dyes to produce an orange colour |
| diet. Foods which are causing concern include fizzy | | | | Effects: Linked to adverse reactions to people |
| drinks, party cakes, luridly colored sweets and some | | | | intolerant to aspirin and to hyperactivity in children. |
| sports drinks. | | | | A multitude of food colourings should be banned from |
| Researchers examined the impact of six artificial | | | | use in food and drink products, which would force |
| colourings blue, yellow, carmoisine, red, tartrazine and | | | | manufacturers to find healthy alternatives. The |
| ponceau. They found the activity of children who | | | | government should launch an investigation to |
| consumed a mixture of these colourings was | | | | re-evaluate the safety of all authorized food additives, |
| measurably affected. Some food industries have | | | | with colours the first ingredients to be under review. |
| already taken action to remove colourings from food | | | | Maybe the food and beverage industry could supply |
| and supermarkets have introduced labeling on | | | | data on food colours as part of a government review. |
| products that are free from artificial colourings. Parents | | | | Among the colours that should be reviewed are the |
| whose children show signs of hyperactivity and reflux | | | | infamous tartrazine, brilliant blue and sunset yellow, |
| might want to think about removing these artificial | | | | which some experts have linked to hyperactivity in |
| colours from their diets. Use of blue colourings should | | | | children, asthma, migraines, reflux and certain rashes. |
| be restricted in all foods, not just those for children. | | | | Also in the spotlight is cochineal, a red dye obtained by |
| Other additives below should also be eliminated from | | | | crushing beetles. Many companies are unable to find a |
| children's diets as well: | | | | natural alternative to the artificial blue colouring. I read |
| TARTRAZINE: Found in: Soft drinks, ice-cream, and | | | | that a three year survey on the impact on children of |
| sweets, fish fingers. What it is: Synthetic dye mixed | | | | additives such as blue, yellow and tartrazine had |
| with blue dyes to produce shades of green Effects: | | | | shown that children tested were better behaved when |
| Linked to allergic reactions, migraine, and blurred vision. | | | | the substances were removed from their diet. But an |
| With benzoic acid may cause hyperactivity in children. | | | | independent expert stated this evidence was not |
| QUNOLINE: Found in: Sweets, soft drinks. What it is: | | | | conclusive. |
| Synthetic dye derived from coal tar? Also used in | | | | Or maybe blue food colouring are popular in food and |
| cosmetics and as pigment for tattoos effects: Linked | | | | drinks because blue is described as a favorite color by |
| to dermatitis. It is also believed to cause hyperactivity | | | | many people and is the color most preferred by |
| and temper tantrums in children. | | | | children. Blue is often described as peaceful, tranquil, |
| SUNSET YELLOW: Found in: Sweets, yoghurts, | | | | secure, and orderly. Some weight loss plans even |
| packet bread crumbs, cheap jam. What it is: Coal tar | | | | recommend eating your food off of a blue plate, but |
| dye Effects: Blamed for triggering stomach upsets, | | | | blue rarely occurs naturally in food aside from |
| nettle rash and swelling of the skin and has been linked | | | | blueberries and some plums. Some researchers |
| for some time with hyperactivity in children. | | | | suggest that the color blue can also lower the pulse |
| CARMOISINE: Found in: Sweets, yoghurts, ices, | | | | rate and body temperature. So maybe that is why |
| blancmanges, marzipan What it is: Coal tar dye | | | | food and drinks blue in color attract people to |
| Effects: Said to trigger reactions such as nettle rash | | | | purchase them. |
| and water retention in people allergic to aspirin. | | | | How does the color blue make you feel? Do you |
| Campaigners have argued that it can cause | | | | associate blue with certain qualities or situations? How |
| hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder in children. | | | | do you feel about food and drinks that are blue in |
| PONCEAAU: Found in: Sweets, tinned fruits, jellies, | | | | color? Is this color safe and healthy for you? |