Sustain: FSA decision is good news

The decision by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to call for a voluntary removal of six artificial colours from food and drink is "good news", the food and farming group Sustain has said.

The FSA reacted after research from Southampton University linked the colours with hyperactivity in children.

Sustain campaign director Richard Watts commented: "This decision is good news for children and parents, who have known for many years that these additives affect children's behaviour.

"The FSA had little choice other than to take this step as soon as they received scientific evidence that these additives were about as harmful to children as leaded petrol."

He continued: "We are very disappointed that the food industry continues to produce new products that contain these additives and we call on them to immediately withdraw any product containing these harmful additives."