The Associate Parliamentary Food and Health Forum last week published the results of a year-long inquiry that looked at evidence linking nutrition to mental health and performance.
The Foods Standards Agency advised parents in September to avoid food and drinks containing certain additives if their children are hyperactive or have ADHD, following the publication of research which found that children's behaviour worsened after consuming certain foods (News, 12 September 2007). The Government has asked the European Commission to advise on whether a ban should be imposed on the additives.
The committee of MPs also recommended that the Government fund school breakfast clubs as part of its commitment to improving school meals and said that all children who are entitled to free school lunches should also be entitled to a healthy free school breakfast.
A spokesperson from community learning charity ContinYou, which provides support and guidance on setting up and maintaining breakfast clubs, welcomed the call for financial support.
ContinYou said, 'It is important to note that the benefits of breakfast clubs for children go much further than just nutritional. They provide an excellent way of meeting their social and emotional, care and learning needs too.
'ContinYou recommends, therefore, that any funding for school breakfast clubs should support all aspects of breakfast clubs, not just the food element.'
The report criticised Government healthy eating campaigns for not highlighting the role of essential fatty acids such as Omega-3, found in fish oils, which the report said appeared to be crucial to children's life chances while in the womb and in early childhood.
It called for more research into the effects of fatty acids on the skills, mood and behaviour of children with behavioural problems and on children with no such difficulties.
Further information:
'The Links between Diet and Behaviour' can be found at http://www.fhf.org.uk/inquiry
Additives
The E number Where it is found
E110 Sunset Yellow squashes, Doritos
E102 tartrazine lollies, fizzy drinks, mushy peas
E122 carmoisine jellies
E124 ponceau 4R Fanta
E211 sodium benzoate Sprite
E104 Quinoline Yellow Skittles
E129 Allura Red Hubba Bubba
