Food Commission press releases

This page provides an archive of press releases from the Food Commission and The Food Magazine, 1998 to 2008. Many of the stories from our independent research and scrutiny of the food industry and its effect on our health and on the environment have made national and sometimes international news headlines.

Year: 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998

Ministers accept proposed FSA voluntary ban on six suspect food colours

Government Ministers have agreed with the Food Standard Agency's (FSA) proposal for a voluntary ban on six food colourings linked to an increased risk of hyperactivity in children. (11/11/2008)

Campaigners call for KFC and Pizza Hut to follow US lead in calorie labelling

KFC and Pizza Hut have announced they will be giving customers the calorie information they want, but not in the UK. (01/10/2008)

Don’t keep us guessing: Campaigners call for more information on fast food menus

The Food Commission is urging the UK government to make fast food chains display nutrition information on menu boards, next to the name and price of the item. (23/09/2008)

Are superbugs spreading on food?

Richard Young argues that over-reliance on antibiotics in farming is also increasing the number of other serious infections in humans which fail to respond to most antibiotics. (10/09/2008)

Warning labels for coloured foods to become EU law

The European Parliament has voted in favour of labelling foods containing the six food colours E110, E104, E122, E129, E102 and E124 with the words 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.' (07/07/2008)

Warning labels for coloured foods: Campaigners call for stronger action

The Action on Additives campaign calls for six artificial food colourings to be banned from food, not labelled as, 'may have an adverse effect on attention and activity in children.' (06/07/2008)

Success for Action on Additives: artificial colourings to be removed from food and drink

The Action on Additives campaign welcomes the Food Standards Agency’s call for a mandatory EU ban on six artificial food colourings. (09/04/2008)

International appeal for European Commission to suspend use of suspect food additives

42 public interest organisations from twelve EU member states have appealed to the European Health Commissioner to suspend the use of six food colours that have been linked to increased hyperactivity in children. (08/04/2008)

Campaigners call for action after EFSA decision on food additives and children’s health

The European Food Safety Authority admits synthetic colours and sodium benzoate ‘had a small and statistically significant effect on activity and attention in some children selected from the general population.’ (13/03/2008)

One thousand reasons why suspect food additives are hard to avoid

Campaigners at The Food Commission have found more than 1,000 food, drink and medicine products that contain one or more of the seven food additives that have been linked to increased hyperactivity in susceptible children. (07/03/2008)

Fruity food flavourings fleece shoppers

Much of the flavour in modern food and drink can come from an unexpected source, a survey by The Food Commission has revealed. 2,700 flavourings can be added to our food, but none of these need to be declared as ingredients. (24/02/2008)

Suspect food additives still widely used in children's medicine

Suspect food additives were found in 40% of the children's medicines examined in a new survey by The Food Commission. (24/02/2008)