Co-op bans food colours and MSG

12/07/05 UK, The Co-op has become the first supermarket group to ban a range of commonly used colours and monosodium glutamate (MSG) in all its own-label food, because of potential links to food intolerance and fresh concerns about children's diets.

According to independent research carried out amongst parents on behalf of the Co-op:

Six in 10 think that children's diets are worse than they were 10 years ago, with over a third (35 per cent) feeling that children's diets have got much worse in the last decade

A third (33 per cent) link their children's diet to hyperactivity, naughtiness, anger and lack of concentration

However, whilst 84 per cent of parents acknowledge that they are primarily responsible for ensuring the food children eat is healthy, followed by schools, government and manufacturers, less than half actually check the contents for sugar (45 per cent), artificial additives (43 per cent), fat (40 per cent) and salt (37 per cent), and a quarter (26 per cent) of all parents surveyed say they don't check the labels at all

Although over a third (37 per cent) have never heard of MSG, on learning of possible links between MSG and food intolerance, 75 per cent say that they may at least re-think their food purchasing for children. Nearly half (43 per cent) say it would definitely affect the food they bought for children.

The Co-op has acted to address these concerns and all Co-op brand products now have no added MSG flavour enhancer and are free from an additional 12 colours - all of which should be avoided by children and those sensitive to additives according to the Hyperactive Children's Support Group (HACSG) - bringing the total number of colours banned by the Co-op to 21.

Although these colours are still legally permitted for use in this country, some, such as Ponceau 4R and Quinoline Yellow are not allowed in the US, whilst Red 2G and Green S are not permitted in Japan.

Following a comprehensive review of over 2,800 own-label food and drink products, the Co-op has now replaced the colours and flavour enhancer with natural alternatives where possible, but has de-listed products where no acceptable alternatives were available.

The initiative is particularly relevant to everyday products eaten by children, because of concerns over the consumption of colours, some of which have been linked to allergies, hypersensitivity and hyperactivity in children. The Co-op move will help parents trying to control additives in their children's diet.

Among the reformulated products are mushy and processed peas, which commonly use the well-known artificial colour Tartrazine and the less well-known Green S. The Co-op has now replaced these with naturally-derived colourings.

Notably, all Co-op crisps have now no added MSG, which is common in other crisps. All Co-op sausages no longer contain Carmines and Co-op chicken and mushroom pasta sauce now has no added MSG.

Numerous children's products have also been reformulated, including dolly mixtures and flying saucers, which contained Quinoline Yellow, Cochineal, and Indigo Carmine.

Some 27 Co-op products have been de-listed, including marrowfat peas where no acceptable alternative could be found for Green S, and prawn cocktail shells, which contained Carminic Acid.

The Co-op is also planning an in-store campaign to give parents a greater understanding of additives.

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