Additives to avoid

    The following additives may cause problems, especially in children. Those who are affected by allergies, asthma or hyperactivity should avoid them. Many of these additives have produced negative effects in human trials and animal tests. Additives are not tested in the real-life cocktails in which we eat them. Doses allowed in food by manufacturers are not designed to take a child's greater intake for their body weight into account and food marketed to children tends to contain more additives than adult food.

    Colours
    102 tartrazine
    104 quinoline yellow
    110 sunset yellow
    122 azorubine, carmoisine
    123 amaranth
    124 ponceau, brilliant scarlet
    127 erythrosine
    129 allura red
    132 indigotine, indigo carmine
    133 brilliant blue
    142 green S, food green, acid brilliant green
    151 brilliant black
    155 brown, chocolate brown
    160b annatto, bixin, norbixin
    173 aluminium
    Antioxidants
    310-312 all gallates
    319 TBHQ
    320 butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
    321 butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
    Flavours
    unregulated - Flavour enhancers
    620-625 glutamic acid and all glutamates, incl.
    621 monosodium glutamate (MSG)
    627 disodium guanylate
    631 disodium inosinate
    635 ribonucleotides
    Preservatives
    200-203 sorbic acid, potassium & calcium sorbates
    210-213 benzoic acid, sodium, potassium & calcium benzoates
    220-228 sulphur dioxide, all sulphites, bisulphites, metabisulphites
    249-252 all nitrates & nitrites
    280-283 propionic acid, sodium, potassium & calcium propionates
    Artificial sweeteners
    950 acesulphame potassium
    951 aspartame
    952 sodium or calcium cyclamate
    954 saccharin
    955 sucralose
    961 neotame

    For more information also see:
    www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info
    www.mbm.net.au/health/guide.htm and
    www.nzfsa.govt.nz (for a list of permitted additives)