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Positive Activities for Young People Team Leader, Luton Borough Council
Food Safety Consultancy
New EU reductions in permitted levels of Sunset Yellow (E 110), Quinoline Yellow (E 104) and Ponceau 4R (E 124)
If you use these colours in soft drinks, confectionery, sauces and seasoning then you need to be aware that EC Regulation 232/2012 has now been published and will apply from 01 June 2013. The Regulation introduces reductions in permitted levels of Sunset Yellow (E 110), Quinoline Yellow (E 104) and Ponceau 4R (E 124) in a number of food categories, including soft drinks, confectionery, sauces and seasoning. The Regulation includes a use level of 20 mg/l for Sunset Yellow in soft drinks.
Foods already placed on the market that comply with the provisions of the current legislation can continue to be marketed until stocks are exhausted. But do you really want to continue using colours in foods at levels that are a cause for concern.
The website uk food guide lists health concerns for:
Sunset Yellow (E110) at this link: http://www.ukfoodguide.net/e110.htm
Quinoline Yellow (E 104) http://www.ukfoodguide.net/e104.htm
Ponceau 4R (E 124) http://www.ukfoodguide.net/e124.htm
Note; the EU has chosen to reduce levels because research studied by them had not been undertaken in accordance with their protocols, had the same results been achieved following protocols there may well have been bans on these additives in line with USA, Norway, Finland, Australia and Japan.
As a consumer you may wish to avoid these additives altogether but spotting which foods they are in is not easy – they are listed in ingredients lists, but the print is often very small and they can be listed by either their name or their E number. Some foods are sold without any packaging, and the additives may also be used in restaurant and take-away food. The additives also crop up in medicines for both children and adults.
Some manufacturers and retailers have already removed these food additives, but other companies think it is okay to keep selling products that contain them.
Full text of the Regulation at: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:078:0001:0012:en:PDf
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