Additives add up to dangerous diets for kids

The Green Party says a new study showing that additives widely used in children’s food is linked to hyperactivity provides compelling evidence that stricter controls and warnings are needed.

The study, commissioned by the British Food Standards Agency and published in the Lancet, involved 300 children aged between three and nine, without hyperactivity disorders. The results showed a significant increase in hyperactivity and disruptive behaviour amongst those children who consumed the most food additives.

Green Party Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley says the results come as no surprise, but should be a clear signal to parents about the possible effects of commonly used additives in children’s food.

“This study and others like it demonstrate a need for labels on food products warning of the potential adverse effects. It also shows a need to restrict the use of certain additives such as artificial colour and sodium benzoate in food targeted in children.

Sodium benzoate (additive 211) has long been recognized as a controversial additive, and was recently found to cause cell or DNA damage on a scale similar to binge drinking.

“There are many children being prescribed powerful psychiatric drugs like Ritalin, when the behaviour of some could be due to the chemical cocktail in their daily diets,” Ms Kedgley says.

“If we are serious about improving children’s health, we need to reduce their daily exposure to artificial food colours and additives that are found in so many foods.

“Such additives should not be present in food that is targeted at children, nor should food that contains it be sold in schools. I would also like to see these products carry warnings of their potential adverse effects,” Ms Kedgley says.