Une étude britannique soutient la révision européenne sur les additifs alimentaires[en][de] 

"Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population," conclude University of Southampton researchers in an article published by The Lancet, a medical journal, on 6 September 2007.

In this article the researchers describe their randomised, double-blind , placebo-controlled test on some 300 children to find out whether the intake of artificial food additives affected children's behaviour. The study was commissioned by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) to examine the possible effect of the combination of artificial food colourings and the preservative sodium benzoate.

The findings suggest that eating or drinking certain mixes of these additives - found in foods popular with children such as soft drinks, confectionery and ice cream - could be linked to a negative effect on children's behaviour. 

Following these results, the FSA decided to revise its advice to consumers on artificial food additives: if a child shows signs of hyperactivity or attention-deficit hyperactivity, eliminating the colourings used in the Southampton study from their diet might have some beneficial effects, it said. 

The UK Food and Drink Federation (FDF) emphasised the need to reassure consumers that the "study does not suggest there is a safety issues with the use of additives" and said that "the way in which the additives were tested as a mixture is not how they are used in everyday products." 

In addition, "manufacturers must label the additives they use in their products, so consumers wishing to avoid certain ingredients can do so by looking at the food label," said FDF director of communications Julian Hunt.

The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to evaluate the UK study and provide an opinion on it. The Commission will then decide whether further measures are necessary for the additives in question.

The request comes at the time when EFSA is carrying out an update of existing legislation regarding food additives and re-evaluating all authorised additives. The aim is to ensure that the additives' safety assessment is still valid in the light of the latest scientific data and technological developments. The new regulations could come into effect by 2010.