Survey of Colours in Sweets (Number 23/02)

Friday 12 April 2002

Food Survey Information Sheet

Five out of 196 retail samples of packaged sweets contained levels of either sunset yellow FCF or carmoisine in excess of the maximum permitted limit of 50 mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram) in confectionery. A maximum permitted limit of 300 mg/kg, for some other colours singly or colours in combination, was not exceeded in any of the samples.
Fourteen of the samples of sweets contained colours that were not listed on the label. 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 sweets is fully observed. Although industry has apparently taken action in the majority of cases where the survey found problems, there is some uncertainty remaining. Local enforcement authorities have been informed and are taking action as part of their own programmes to test sweets for colours.