A British research team have been studying the potential adverse side effects of various E-number azo-dye food additives and parents are being advised not to give their children food containing these substances.
University of Southampton researchers tested the additives tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124), sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), quinoline yellow (E104) and allura red AC (E129) on both three-year olds and eight-to-nine year olds, and these colourings have been linked in the past to behavioural problems such as tantrums, poor concentration, hyperactivity, asthma and allergic reactions.
The additives the team tested are approved for use in the EU but some of these food dyes are banned in Scandinavian countries and America. However, the Food Standards Agency said it would not issue any official recommendations about their use until the results of the study were published. 
