US Authorities Relaxed over Food Color Concerns

May 1, 2009: 09:41 AM EST

America appears to be less concerned about the possible harmful effects of some food colorings than Europe. A 2007 study at the UK’s University of Southampton concluded that some colorings adversely affect the behavior of children under 13 or 14 years of age. In response, European legislators passed measures requiring warning labels to be used for some colorings, and banned others altogether, including Blue 1 and Green 3. Despite this, Europe’s Food Safety Authority decided not to alter recommended daily intakes of the colorings. America’s FDA also saw no reason to change its policies. Attempts by Maryland Sen. Norman Stone Jr. to require food manufacturers to add warning labels to food, and to ban the use of some colors in foods prepared for the State’s schools, have been killed by legislators. Restaurant chains opposed the measures, while the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is calling on the FDA to review the issue. CSPI executive vice president Michael Jacobson says it is only a matter of time before consumer pressure forces states and other jurisdictions to consider banning some food colors.

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US Authorities Relaxed over Food Color Concerns

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