Cadbury to remove artificial colours by year’s end

Cadbury Schweppes has taken the decision to remove all artificial colourings from its products after the Southampton Study found they have an affect on behaviours.

All confectionary products will be artificial colourings free by the end of this year and Cadbury spokesperson Tony Bilsborough explained more: "Cadbury can confirm that we have listened to consumers and are committed to replacing all artificial colours in our sweet by the end of this year."

He added: "We note the Southampton study findings, although we had already begun a programme to replace artificial colours in our biggest, such as Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts and Jelly Babies – all other sweet brands will now switch before the end of 2008."

Nestle Rowntree made the same move in 2005 and saw profits rise by 9% proving the strategy is worthwhile.

Scientists at Europe's food safety watchdog concluded last month that two mixtures of certain food colourings and the preservative sodium benzoate do have an effect on children's levels of hyperactivity.

However, the link was found to be so small that the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) AFC Panel has decided that the findings cannot be used as a basis for altering the acceptable daily intakes of the respective food colourings or sodium benzoate.

Words: Clare Riley

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