UK Guardian: Combining Food Additives May Be Harmful, Say Researche

From: Andrew Johnson

Date: 2006-01-16 08:15:53

Combining Food Additives May Be Harmful, Say Researchers Aspartame and artificial colourings investigated · Mice nerve cells stopped growing in experiments
Felicity Lawrence, consumer affairs correspondent
Wednesday December 21, 2005
Guardian
education.guardian.c…,,1671821,00.html New research on common food additives, including the controversial sweetener aspartame and food colourings, suggests they may interact to interfere with the development of the nervous system. Researchers at the University of Liverpool examined the toxic effects on nerve cells in the laboratory of using a combination of four common food additives – aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and the artificial colourings brilliant blue and quinoline yellow. The findings of their two-year study were published last week in the journal Toxicological Sciences (read full study here) The Liverpool team reported that when mouse nerve cells were exposed to MSG and brilliant blue or aspartame and quinoline yellow in laboratory conditions, combined in concentrations that theoretically reflect the compound that enters the bloodstream after a typical children’s snack and drink, the additives stopped the nerve cells growing and interfered with proper signalling systems. The mixtures of the additives had a much more potent effect on nerve cells than each additive on its own. The study reported that the effect on cells could be up to four times greater when brilliant blue and MSG were combined, and up to seven times greater when quinoline yellow and aspartame were combined, than when the additives were applied on their own. “The results indicate that both combinations are potentially more toxic than might be predicted from the sum of their individual compounds,” the researchers concluded. The tests used are the same as those applied when testing combinations of pesticides for toxicity. “They are recognised as predictive of developmental outcomes in humans,” said Vyvyan Howard, a toxicopathologist and expert in foetal development who led the study. Exposure to food additives during a child’s development has been associated with behavioural problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Additives are licensed for use one at a time, but the study’s authors believe that examining their effect in combinations gives a more accurate picture of how they are consumed in the modern diet. “Although the use of single food additives is believed to be relatively safe in terms of development of the nervous system, their combined effects are unclear,” Professor Howard said. “We think there are signs that when you mix additives, the effect might be worse.” The colours used in the research are synthetic dyes certified as safe food additives in the EU. However, brilliant blue (E133) has been banned in several European countries in the past. Quinoline yellow (E104) is banned in foods in Australia, Norway and the US. Previous research has shown that MSG (E621) and aspartic acid, one of the breakdown compounds in aspartame (E951), are neurotoxins, according to the authors of the study. Brilliant blue is found in sweets, some processed peas, some soft drinks and some confectionery, desserts and ices. Quinoline yellow is found in some smoked haddock, some confectionery and some pickles. MSG, which is banned in foods for young children, is found in some pasta with sauce products, a large number of crisps, processed cheese, and prepared meals. Aspartame is found in diet drinks, some sweets, desserts and medicines.

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