Warning of artificial colors in sweets

Foods containing artificial colors will need to be warned across the EU from Tuesday.

(19.07.2010) Foods that contain artificial colors must contain a warning label on the packaging from tomorrow. Many foods on the market contain harmful dyes (azo dyes). From tomorrow, consumers will be able to read warnings such as "Can affect activity and attention in children" on manufacturers' packaging. The warning is valid throughout the EU for products, but only for those containing azo dyes. All other products are initially exempt from this rule.

Artificial dyes are contained mainly in the so popular colorful sweets and lemonades. These are suspected to trigger allergies, hyperactivity and poor concentration in children. In addition, azo dyes increase the risk of developing cancer. Excluded from this rule, however, should be alcoholic beverages. These should not be marked separately. However, consumers will notice that this label is not just for sweets. So the warnings will appear even where you would not have suspected it at first. For example, in fruit preserves, margarine, cheese and fish products.

Consumer advocates and environmental activists do not go far enough with this regulation. For years they have been fighting for a labeling obligation of food manufacturers. It would be best, so the consumer advocates, they forbid these dyes. But the European Food Safety Authority "Efsa" voted against such a ban, "there is not enough evidence that the dyes make sick". Therefore, the "Efsa" could only wrestle by, to prescribe appropriate warnings to manufacturers. It can be assumed that lobbyists of the manufacturers once again strongly influenced representatives. There is no evidence, however.

Since a ban has now been ruled out and other artificial colors have been omitted from this scheme, consumers have only the opportunity to take action themselves. The following products should be left on the recommendation of consumer advocates better on the shelves, as these can be harmful to health. Foods with the E numbers E-102 (Tartrazine), E 110 (Sunset Orange), E 122 (Azorubin), E 124 (Cochenillerot), E 129 (Allura Red) and E 104 (Quinoline Yellow) contain artificial colors that are suspected to affect your health.

Those who want to be on the safe side and pay attention to the health of the children should buy sweets only in organic or health food store. It is important to ensure that the inscription: "No artificial colors" is included. Oddly enough, the big corporations have already responded by quickly replacing the azo dyes with other dyes to avoid the warning. Thus, the known fruit gums of a manufacturer no longer contain azo dyes. (Sb)

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Picture: Thomas Max Müller