HOW BRAINY IS YOUR BABY

Food experts are advising parents not to give their children food and drink containing certain additives until a study into whether they cause behavioral problems. Many parents try to avoid food containing E-numbers for their children, believing that such additives adversely affect their behavior. Certainly, a Food Standards Agency (FSA) study seven years ago linked certain additives to children's behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, lack of concentration, temper tantrums and allergic reactions. Many parents try to avoid food containing E-numbers for their children, believing that such additives adversely affect their behavior. Certainly, a Food Standards Agency (FSA) study seven years ago linked certain additives to children's behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, lack of concentration, temper tantrums and allergic reactions. The results of the study, which tested both three-year-olds and eight-to-nine-year-olds, are now known, but won't be released until they're published in a scientific journal, which could take several months. In the meantime, the FSA's chief scientist, Dr Andrew Wadge, points out that the additives are approved for use in the UK under EU law, and adds: "Legislation demands these ingredients are clearly labeled so consumers can make an informed choice about including additives in what they eat." However, some of the colors are banned in Scandinavian countries and the US, and several food experts in the UK have advised parents to avoid foods containing them - such as many brightly-colored sweets and fizzy drinks - for their children, at least until the new research is published. Ian Tokelove, a spokesperson for the independent food watchdog the Food Commission, says: "Many of the additives they're looking at are completely unnecessary anyway. They just don't need to be in children's food - there are natural alternatives, but the colorings are added to disguise bland colors." And even the major supermarkets are starting to turn their backs on additives - ASDA has just announced that none of its own-label food and soft drinks will contain artificial colors or flavors by the end of the year, and from next month Sainsbury's will ban artificial colors and flavorings in its own-label soft drinks, using natural colors and fruit and vegetable extracts instead.