Artificial colouring E-Numbers as harmful as leaded gas for children - report

There's a headline to make you choke on your morning cornflakes.

It refers to a new study undertaken for the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) study by Southampton University,which suggests "seven colourings, including tartrazine and sunset yellow, could affect children's intelligence by up to five IQ points," according to the Daily Telegraph.

The FSA is set to meet this week to consider "recommendations from its officials that manufacturers should voluntarily remove six of the E numbers from their products while further research is carried out on the seventh, sodium benzoate."

Here are the e-numbers of most concern.

Comments

[Cato]

I can attest that Tartrazine is bad news. Consuming any food with this in it causes me to feel like I've had a few shots of vodka - complete with flushed cheeks and the giggles (and I'm a fully grown adult!). Fortunately it tends to only turn up in the cheaper "junk" or preprepared foods. That said I often wondered why I always felt so great after some ice-cream from the local gourmet ice-cream shop. Secret Tartrazine high!