EU FSA Seeks Comments on Reducing Some Food Colors

LONDONThe EU Food Standards Agency is soliciting comments on new EU proposals to reduce levels of the food colors quinoline yellow, sunset yellow and ponceau 4R in food and beverages.

Quinoline yellow, sunset yellow and ponceau 4R are among the six colors that were used in a study undertaken by Southampton University that provided evidence for a possible link between the consumption of these food colors and hyperactivity in children.

Following the publication of the Southampton study, the Food Standards Agency requested UK industry to withdraw voluntarily the six colors from food and drink. In addition, there is a new EU labeling requirement for any foods continuing to contain any of the six colors.

The European Commission is proposing to amend currently permitted levels for E 104 quinoline yellow, E 110 sunset yellow and E 124 ponceau 4R in some food categories, and to prohibit their use in other food categories where the Commission believes they are not needed.

The Agency is seeking comments as to whether the reduced limits proposed by the Commission will continue to be sufficient to provide the necessary technological effect in the products manufactured by some companies. In addition, if companies are using any of these colors in the food categories that are proposed for deletion, they are asked to let the Agency know, along with how long it will take to reformulate with alternatives.

The European Commission has contacted major European trade associations on the proposed amendments and the Agency has already written to major trade associations seeking comments.

The Agency is taking comments via email: [email protected].

Deadline to submit comments is October 29, 2010.

Click here to see the EC Directive detailing the proposed changes.