Survey of Colours in Soft Drinks (Number 37/2003)

• Out of 201 retail ready-to-drink soft drinks, four samples contained levels of either sunset yellow FCF or carmoisine in excess of the maximum permitted limit of 50 mg/l (milligrams per litre) in soft drinks.
• Four other samples of drinks contained colours that were not listed on the label. If a colour added to a food is not listed on the label, this may be a breach of labelling law, under regulation 14(9) of the Food Labelling Regulations. The Food Standards Agency considers that consumers should be fully informed about the presence of ingredients in food, and is pressing for all ingredients, including all additives, to be indicated on food labels. This is part of the Agency's Food Labelling Action Plan.
• The Food Standards Agency is working with local authorities to ensure that the law on colours in soft drinks is fully observed. Local enforcement authorities have been informed of the results from this survey and are taking action as part of their own programmes to test soft drinks for artificial colours. Industry has taken action in the majority of cases where the survey found problems (6 out of the 8 samples) and the relevant Spanish authority for the remaining 2 samples will be following the results up with the manufacturer.
• The four incidences of levels of artifical colours in excess of those permitted in the legislation reported in this survey are not a concern for consumer heath, but there is a need to ensure compliance with colours in food and labelling regulations.
• The samples in the survey found to contain levels of colour in excess of the statutory limit were Budgens active (NOR 08), Mace Iron Brew (NOR 25), 330+ Iron Brew (NEW 28) and Snaya Kids Chubby Bottle (red) (GLA 13).
• The samples in the survey found to contain mislabelled colours were Supervalu red lemonade (BEL 20), Snaya Kids Chubby Bottle (blue) (GLA 12), Bigga Grape (BIR 22) and DG Jamaica Strawberry soda (BIR 24).