Longer Shelf Life, Shorter Human Life

E211 Revealed: Evidence highlights new fear over drinks additive

The row over artificial preservatives and flavourings in our foodstuffs has raged long and hard. Now the 'IoS' discloses how one substance may cause damage similar to alcohol abuse.

Martin Hickman reports

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The chemicals in our food and drink, and what they can do to us

E102

Tartrazine: colouring.

Can provoke asthma attacks and has links to thyroid tumours. Colours soft drinks.

E104

Quinoline yellow: colouring.

Used in a wide range of medications but can cause dermatitis. Banned in US and Norway.

E110

Sunset yellow FCR: colouring.

Side effects are hives, kidney tumours, nausea and vomiting.

E122

Carmoisine: colouring.

Derives from coal tar. Can cause bad reactions in asthmatics and people allergic to aspirin.

E124

Ponceau 4R: colouring.

Carcinogen in animals, can produce bad reaction in asthmatics.

E407

Carrageenan: thickener.

Fibre extracted from seaweed, recently linked to cancer.

E412

Guar gum: thickener.

Derived from seeds fed to cattle in the US. Can cause nausea.

E621

Monosodium glutamate (MSG): flavouring.

Flavour enhancer found in many canned foods. Not permitted in foods for young children. Adverse effects appear in some asthmatic people.

E622

Monopotassium glutamate: flavouring.

Can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

E635

Disodium 5-ribonucleotide: flavouring.

Associated with itchy skin rashes up to 30 hours after ingestion. Often found in instant noodles and party pies.

Caution: Some soft drinks may seriously harm your health

Expert links additive to cell damage

By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Published: 27 May 2007

A new health scare erupted over soft drinks last night amid evidence they may cause serious cell damage. Research from a British university suggests a common preservative found in drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA.

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A review of sodium benzoate by the World Health Organisation in 2000 concluded that it was safe, but it noted that the available science supporting its safety was "limited..."