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Dept of Health

Answer

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Food Standards Agency has made of the effects of artificial (i) colourings, (ii) flavourings and (iii) additives on children. [200424] Miss Melanie Johnson: Responsibility for food safety lies with the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Food additives, including colourings, are authorised for use only after a rigorous safety assessment by independent scientific committees. This assessment includes a consideration of all age groups within the population. There is some concern on the effects of some food additives on the behaviour of children but the assessment of the results of studies have shown that there is still significant scientific uncertainty. The FSA has commissioned a study into the effects of some colourings and preservatives on children's behaviour, and results are expected in spring 2007. The approval process of flavourings is different. All flavourings and indeed, each constituent of a flavouring blend, must be safe under the terms of the Food Safety Act 1990. The European Commission is working towards a positive list of permitted chemically defined flavouring substances (either natural, nature-identical or artificial). A European Union-wide register of flavouring substances, approximately 2,800 substances, provides the basis for this work on safety evaluations, currently being undertaken by the European Food Safety Authority.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

428 c105-6W; 200424

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Children Additives Colourings Health hazards Food Safety Preservatives Flavourings

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk