Food labels 'need additive warnings'

Food and drink products should be labelled with health warnings if they contain certain artificial additives, a report claims today.

Also known as 'E numbers', the additives are used in a wide range or products including cakes, sweets, fruit squashes and soft drinks.

When used in medicines a health warning is supposed to be printed on the label that they could cause mild irritation, allergic reactions and possible severe hypersensitivity reactions.

But, a report from the independent watchdog Food Commission's magazine claims, no such warnings are necessary for food labels.

Artificial colourings which the report outlines are E102, E110 and E124 and the preservatives E211 (sodium benzoate), E220 (sodium dioxide) and E223 (sodium metabisulphite).

When used in medicines they must carry the health warning that they may be mildly irritant and cause allergic reactions.

Even though people are exposed to greater quantities of food additives in daily food and drink compared to medicines, food labels do not carry the same warning.

Ian Tokelove, a spokesperson for The Food Magazine, commented: "The government and the food industry continue to assure us that all food additives are safe for us to eat, but here we have clear medical guidelines which state that over a dozen common additives should carry a health warning.

"For many people the additives appear to pose no immediate risk, but better labelling would ensure that susceptible adults and children would at least have a chance of identifying, and avoiding, the additives that may cause them harm."