Food colourings and their affects
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In a recent article I read in Health Smart about food colourings, a couple of things disturbed me. I have always known that they are not good for you, but it is the attitude of the authorities that astonishes me the most.
Studies have shown that at least 15 commonly used food colourings can produce behavioural problems and other health problems in some people, especially children.
So why have them in our food? Well, here’s a few comments that caught my attention;
Food Standards Australia New Zealand ensures we are consuming additives at levels which would not poison you if you ate them everyday. Gee thanks for that!
FSANZ says these colours are not contained in everyday nutritous foods children should be eating. No Joke, but they’re still out there and they’re still being advertised everywhere you go and at every checkout and in every school canteen.
FSANZ already requires by law that all additives are listed on products. The problem is that most people out there don’t know that their ADD (attention deficit disorder) or asthmatic or aggresive child’s problems are coming from the food that has been passed to be sold in our schools.
Now this is my favourite – I quote “Consumers would baulk at food without colourings. Can you imagine drinking a clear but orange-tasting fizzy drink?” NO I can’t, I wouldn’t feed orange fizzy drink to a stray dog, with or without colour!
Now on the upside, a number of companies are taking the initiative themselves. I know that Nestle now make their Smarties free from artificial colours. I walked past Donut king the other day and they had huge signs all over their counters stating all natural colours used to make their donuts. I have even taken the time to check out a few products in the supermarket and a lot of them stated no artificial colours or flavours.
So they are out there, just take the time to look and buy the products with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. This is really easy when you eat all natural food, the way they were intended to be eaten.
No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives
In Europe, all foods that contain these additives must carry the following warning “May have adverse effect on activity and attention in children” Wow, children in Europe must be effected worse than ours. Is that correct FSANZ?
Here’s the colours they have found most commonly produce reactions;
102, 104, 110, 122, 123, 124, 127, 129, 132, 133, 142, 143, 151, 155 and 1 natural colour 160b
And here’s just some of the products they are commonly found in in Australia. I have highlighted the ones that should shock you;
Prawn crackers, Froot Loops, cakes, biscuits, muffins, pickles, ice cream cones, dried fruit, cordial, flavoured natural mineral water, flavoured milk, rissoles, medicines (including children’s and infant cold preparations), muesli bars, hokkien noodles, pies and toothpaste.
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