Ireland
Food safety body bans colour additive
Tuesday, 10 July 2007 11:56The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has banned the food colour additive E128, also known as Red 2G.
Red 2G is used as a colour in very small quantities in some sausages and burger meat.
The authority took the action following a review by the European Food Safety Authority, which concluded that Red 2G should no longer be used in food due to possible safety concerns.
Advertisement
Red 2G converts into aniline inside the body, and the EFSA review found that in large concentrations aniline has the potential to cause cancer in animals.
This is the first of a series of re-evaluations the EFSA is undertaking on the safety of food additives, including colours, currently authorised in the EU.
