UK Government warns of the dangers of food additives

The Guardian newspaper is reporting that the UK's Food Standards Agency (equivalent of the US Food and Drug Administration) is issuing a revised set of guidelines warning parents to avoid certain common food additives if their children are showing signs of hyperactivity or ADHD.

This follows the largest study in the UK of the effects of food additives on children's behaviour, commissioned by the government and published in the medical journal The Lancet. The additives include artificial colourings and the preservative Sodium Benzoate which is used in many soft drinks.

Critics of the move say that the FSA has missed a golden opportunity to ban these additives, altogether.

The food and drink additive industry is worth more than 25 billion dollars per year world-wide.

I wonder what the cost is, world wide, of the poor learning and ant-social behaviour caused by these products.