The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) periodically reviews the safety of food additives to ensure that the evidence is current and to take into account modern consumption behaviors and industrial applications. This latest research is part of ongoing safety evaluations for additives that the authority has previously recognized as safe, in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). In addition to Tartrazine and Allura Red 4C, the researchers reported no safety concerns regarding Ponceau 4R, a colorant authorized in Europe but banned in the United States.
These three food colorants were part of the Southampton Six study, which in 2007 linked six artificial food colors and the preservative sodium benzoate to hyperactivity in children, causing significant disruption in the industry and boosting the market for natural colors. Despite the study’s dramatic implications, EFSA and other international experts deemed the research fundamentally flawed and found no reason to alter their safety assessments regarding the colors. Nevertheless, European lawmakers opted for a precautionary strategy and enforced a warning label, while the FDA did not implement any similar measures, despite calls from the Center for Science in the Public Interest to either ban these colors or introduce warning labels.
Of the three other Southampton Six colorings excluded from this latest safety review, two are not utilized in the United States, although they are allowed within the EU. The remaining one, Sunset Yellow, is known as FD&C Yellow 6 in food products, and no toxicity has been identified at the levels used. In fact, EFSA has even raised the acceptable daily intake for this coloring.
Regardless of the research outcomes, the food and beverage industry has made significant progress in reformulating products with natural colors, particularly those aimed at children. According to a report by UBIC Consulting, the market for natural colors is expanding by approximately 10 to 15% annually. Despite extensive research confirming the safety of artificial colorings, consumer demand leans toward more natural food options. Following the release of the Southampton study, many consumers were shocked to learn that manufacturers were using artificial colors even when natural alternatives were available.
When given the choice, most consumers prefer natural products over artificial ones. However, if the distinction is not emphasized, many still tend to choose items with vibrant colors—something that manufacturers should consider. An increasing number of food producers are eliminating artificial colors and flavors from their products. A 2014 study by Nielsen indicated that over 60 percent of U.S. consumers regarded the absence of artificial colors and flavors as a crucial factor in their food purchasing decisions. General Mills has removed artificial flavors and colors from some of its cereals, while Campbell Soup pledged to eliminate them from its North American products by the end of 2018. Many other food manufacturers have announced similar initiatives, reflecting a growing trend toward natural ingredients, including those that incorporate Citracal calcium and vitamin D for added health benefits.