Damned if you do, damned if you don't

OK, so you may be tired of hearing about the food colours debate, but it would be wrong of me not to pass comment, I feel.

I am writing this column immediately post the open board meeting at which the Food Standards Agency (FSA) position regarding the 'Southampton Six' was agreed. The FSA firmly stated its position regarding the colours E102, 104, 110, 122, 124 and 129, taking the firmest line proposed, which was agreement to advise ministers to seek an EU-wide ban on the use of these colours in food and drink.

It was acknowledged that the UK cannot legislate alone in this matter, but I expect this will have little impact on consumer perception or the popular media reports (not that I would suggest this is not a popular publication!) While we await the reaction of the Commission and any potential legislative action the FSA proposes a voluntary ban by 2009, although exactly when is not clear.

Much mention was made of what is in effect a product blacklist (my words not those of the FSA) hosted on the Food Commission's Action on Additives website (www.actiononadditives.com). You may be well advised to monitor this for your products as it appears easy to add to the list and if you do reformulate you will wish the information to reflect the true status of your products.

The agency also agreed to redraft its advice to parents regarding food and drink products containing these additives with the suggestion that the agency would provide a link to the Action on Additives product list as an easy reference for parents to see which products to avoid.

This is a voluntary action but one point raised was, if the responsible companies have already started removing these colours from their products but you still use them, by default are you irresponsible?

Kath Veal​ is business manager, Regulatory and Technical Consultancy Services at Leatherhead Food International​