NZ Herald: Seeing red over food colours

Rachel Grunwell writes in the New Zealand Herald about experts who are considering whether they should move to ban artificial food colourings from some foods.

A recent US report has suggested they could raise the risk for cancer, and also contribute to behavioural issues in some children. FSANZ has said they are looking into the claims, but that research had also showed that the levels of such colourings in NZ food were so low as to be deemed safe.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“The new research, conducted by The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in the US, called Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks, claims some synthetic chemicals do not improve the nutrition of foods, but can bring about behavioural problems in children and even be carcinogenic to all.

“Food Standards Australia New Zealand is looking into the findings.

“Spokeswoman Lydia Buchtman said if there was any clear evidence of a link to cancer and other health issues, bans could be imposed. But she said peer reviewed scientific research had previously deemed colours were at such low levels in foods in New Zealand they were safe.

“Buchtman said there were no specific food products listed in the new US report. Her authority has previously investigated 16 colours found in Kiwi foods and deemed them to be at safe levels.”