EU Color Warning Labels Now In Effect

As of yesterday, foods in the EU containing the so-call 'Southampton Six' colorants, or the preservative sodium benzoate, must bear a label warning that the food may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. The six colors include: sunset yellow (E110), quinoline yellow (E104), carmoisine (E122), allura red (E129), ponceau 4R (E124), and tartrazine (E102).

In 2006, the Food Standards Agency funded a study at the University of Southampton to research the effects of artificial food color additives on childhood behavior. The results of this study found a link between consumption of six artificial colors and increased hyperactivity in 3 year old and 8/9 year old children in the general population. Following publication of the findings in 2007, and a review by the independent Committee of Toxicity, it was recommended that UK manufacturers voluntarily remove these additives.