Colour of contamination

The products are contaminated with carcinogens, causing cancer in rats, triggering behavioural problems and allergic reactions in children, a US study has found.

Julie Eady from Additive Alert has been lobbying food authorities to ban the ingredients for years.

"The problem additives are not just in junk foods and lollies anymore, they are widely used in our everyday staples - our breads, muesli's, fruit juices, muffins, rice crackers," Julie said.

The Centre for Science in the Public Interest in the US has flagged the colours 102, 110 and 129 and it's estimated more than 1100 foods here contain the harmful additives, including Fruit Loops and Tim Tams.

It follows British research which found that these artificial food colours, along with another three – 104, 122 and 124 – could be as detrimental as lead on developing young brains.

"Many of these colours are a known trigger for asthma, things like skin problems, eczema, sleeping problems, migraines," Julie said.

Five years ago, mother of two Tegan Benfell, put her eldest daughter Amelia's behaviour down to a severe case of the terrible two's.

"She'd be in her bedroom face down, headbutting the floor. Its humiliating going out with a child like that and thinking what am I doing wrong," Tegan said.

Diagnosed with Attention Defecit Disorder, just like an estimated two in every 100 children, Amelia was prescribed medication.

"I chose not to fill the prescription. There are no side effects of cutting food additives out, so we decided to have a go. It was difficult to learn the little tricks manufacturers use but two weeks later she was amazing," Tegan said.

Now seven, a better behaved Amelia still craves all the foods kids love.

"Being additive free doesn't mean missing out. It's changing habits and buying safer brands and voting with our shopper dollar," Tegan said.

"Despite the fact that these colours have been phased out of foods completely in the UK and warning labels are now required throughout the whole EU, we're still using them," Julie said.

Melanie Fischer, General Manager of Food Standards Australia, New Zealand, argues that results are inconsistent.

"Our conclusion along with the external experts, was that the study was interesting but …you couldn’t really argue there was a link between food colour and the impact on behavior," Melanie said.

While Food Standards Australia New Zealand is assessing the latest findings, there are no plans for change here.

"We went out and tested what levels colours were actually being used at in Australian foods and we found that the levels were much lower than the maximum permitted level," Melanie added.

German supermarket giant Aldi is the first grocery retailer in Australia to ban artificial food colours in all of their products.

Spokesperson Libby Hay is throwing down the gauntlet, challenging other supermarkets to follow their lead.

"Either replace with natural alternatives or nothing at all, without compromising on the quality or the taste of products," Libby said.

Comparing the Coles and Woolworths home brand labels, all had similar prices and the products "looked" the same as Aldi's. But plenty still contain those six questionable additives in soft drink, lollies and ice cream.

Coles says 90% of their home brand products don't contain the six food colouring additives and they're working with suppliers to remove them from the rest.

While Woolworths premium home brand "Select" is entirely free from those food colours and they're working to replace their other Home Brand products with natural substitutes.

And Food Standards Australia New Zealand say they are assessing the latest research and if there is good scientific evidence, they can and will make changes.

For further information on the colours which have been banned or are being questioned, visit the website at: www.thelancet.com