Action on controversial additive needed

28 May 2007

Action on controversial additive needed

The Green Party says its time the Government took urgent action to reduce children's exposure to controversial additives like sodium benzoate, which is widely used in children's food and drink.

A recent study in the United Kingdom has found that sodium benzoate (additive 211) causes cell or DNA damage on a scale similar to binge drinking.

"This latest study is alarming, given that sodium benzoate is present in foods that are widely consumed by children, such as biscuits, sauces, fruit drinks and diet fizzy drinks such as Diet Coke and Sprite Zero," Greens' Safe Food Spokesperson Sue Kedgley says.

"The finding that the additive causes cell damage on a scale similar to binge drinking should surely provoke our government into action.

"We don't allow alcohol to be sold to children because of its effect on health, so why do we allow additives with a similar level of harm to be sold in food and drink that children are consuming everyday?

"In the light of this new study Food Standards Australia New Zealand should undertake an urgent review of the additive with a view to restricting children's exposure to it," Ms Kedgley says.

"At the very least products containing additive 211 should be required to carry a warning stating that they carry risks, particularly for children."

Ms Kedgley said the need for government action was urgent, given a recent FSANZ survey which found that young Australasian boys were exceeding the allegedly 'safe limit' of the additive by 140 percent.

"This is alarming and demands action rather than the usual procrastinating response by food agencies.

"It is also imperative that all vending machines selling diet fizzy drinks containing this additive are removed from schools.

"Work being done by the Health Ministry to categorise food sold in schools must assess additives, as well as their fat, salt and sugar content. It should recommend that any food that contains sodium benzoate not be sold in schools," Ms Kedgley says.

"A wider study of the cocktail effect of consuming controversial additives on children's health and well-being is also needed in the light of another new study linking the consumption of commonly used colourings and preservatives, and behavioural problems in children."

ENDS