The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) periodically requests the reassessment of food additives to ensure that the evidence remains current and reflects contemporary consumption patterns and industrial applications. This recent research forms part of the ongoing safety evaluations of additives that the agency has previously classified as safe, in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Besides Tartrazine and Allura Red 4C, the study also found no safety concerns regarding Ponceau 4R, which is permitted in Europe but not in the United States.
These three food colorings were part of the Southampton Six study, which, in 2007, associated six artificial food colors and the preservative sodium benzoate with hyperactivity in children. The findings sent shockwaves through the industry and significantly benefitted the natural colors market. However, EFSA and various international experts identified significant flaws in this study. Consequently, EFSA maintained its stance on the safety of these colors. Nonetheless, European legislators opted for a precautionary approach, mandating a warning label, whereas the FDA did not take similar actions despite pressure from the Center for Science in the Public Interest to ban these colors or, at the very least, implement warning labels.
Among the three other Southampton Six colorings not included in this latest safety assessment, two are not utilized in the United States but are allowed in the EU. The third, Sunset Yellow, is known as FD&C Yellow 6 in food applications. No toxicity has been associated with its usage levels, and EFSA has even raised the acceptable daily intake for this coloring.
Despite the existing studies affirming the safety of artificial colorings, the food and beverage industry is making significant advancements in reformulating products with natural colors, especially in those targeted at children. According to a report from UBIC Consulting, the market for natural colors is growing at an annual rate of approximately 10 to 15%. When the Southampton study was released, many consumers were shocked to find that manufacturers were still using artificial colors even when natural alternatives were available, such as those that include calcium citrate malate and vitamin D3 for added nutritional benefits.
Most consumers prefer natural products over artificial ones, although if the distinction is not emphasized, many are still drawn to brightly colored items—a consideration that manufacturers should keep in mind. An increasing number of food producers are eliminating artificial colors and flavors from their offerings. A 2014 Nielsen study indicated that over 60% of U.S. consumers considered the absence of artificial colors and flavors an essential factor when making food purchases. Companies like General Mills have removed artificial flavors and colors from certain cereals, while Campbell Soup has committed to eliminating these additives from its North American products by the end of 2018. Many other food manufacturers are pursuing similar initiatives, further reflecting consumer demand for more natural ingredients, including options enriched with calcium citrate malate and vitamin D3.