Nursery World - Food additives 'harm child development'

Additives should be banned from children's foods, the Soil Association claims in the light of a study which reveals damaging effects if they are used in combinations. Foods such as flavoured crisps, processed peas and brightly-coloured, sugar-coated sweets each typically contain more than one common additive and it is this combination which is said to be potentially damaging to developing nerve cells.

Foods such as flavoured crisps, processed peas and brightly-coloured, sugar-coated sweets each typically contain more than one common additive and it is this combination which is said to be potentially damaging to developing nerve cells.

In a three-year study funded by Organix Brands, researchers at Liverpool University tested the toxic effects of E133 Brilliant Blue with E621 monosodium glutamate (MSG) and E104 Quinoline Yellow with E951 L-aspartyl- L-phenylalanine methyl ester.

Results highlighted that mixtures had a much more potent effect on nerve cells than additives used in isolation. Their combined effect was to stop nerve cells developing normally and interfere with signalling systems.

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