Handful of confectioners fall foul of labelling laws
requirements relating to colours in confectionery are being
observed.
A survey carried out by the UK Food Standards Agency to determine if the legal requirements relating to colours in confectionery were being observed found that in a small number of cases limits are not being observed.
Of the 196 samples taken, levels of colours in 191 were within limits set out in The Colours in Food Regulations 1995. But five samples contained levels of two colours that were above the legal limits (E110 sunset yellow FCF and E122 carmoisine).
While this is unacceptable, the two colours were not found at levels that would be expected to cause adverse health effects. The survey also found colours not listed on the product labels in 14 of the sweet samples.
The FSA stressed in a statement that it believes that all ingredients in foods, including all additives, should be listed on products.
"We are pressing the European Commission for change in this area so that consumers can be fully aware of what is in the food that they eat.
We have also written to the companies involved with the results of the affected samples. Their responses, where received, are included as part of the survey, " the FSA wrote on Wednesday.
The FSA added that companies contacted have taken their own action to resolve the problem. In one case, a modification of the sweet manufacturing process has ensured that legal levels of colours will now be met.
The results of the report have been passed onto the relevant local enforcement authorities to take further action where necessary and to ensure legal requirements are observed in the future.
