A change of diet should be as standard a treatment as drugs for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), he claims.

Banning artificial colours and preservatives, like those found in sweets, ice cream and fizzy drinks, could help their condition, according to Professor Andrew Kemp, an expert in food intolerances at the University of Sydney.

Numerous scientific studies have shown a link between ADHD and food additives. Scientists found that eating the equivalent of two bags of sweets every day can severely affect children's ability to concentrate, pay attention or follow a conversation.

Last month the Food Standards Agency, the Government's food watchdog, told parents who suspect that their child's behavioural problems are linked to additives to ensure they do not eat products containing flavourings and colourings.

Many doctors, however, are reluctant to suggest dietary treatments for their patients and often prefer to prescribe drugs or behavioural therapy.

After further research he has now recanted & accepts that treating ADHD children with drugs is not effective in the long-term. After 3 years of treatment, drugs such as Ritalin & concerta work no better than behavioural therapy, & that long-term use can stunt children's growth.

(Green Health Watch Editor says that Prof Pelham makes no apology to the children whose lives were damaged by long-term use of Ritalin & Concerta which can cause insomnia, fast heartbeat, heart attack, stroke, coma & sudden death.)

In June 2007, Sainsbury's became the first major supermarket chain to ban artificial colours and flavours from its own-label soft drinks range. The ban applies across the entire range of 120 own-brand drinks. Sainsbury's is also replacing aspartame with sucralose, a low-calorie sweetener made from sugar, and removing the commonly used artificial colouring sulphite ammonia caramel (E150d) from its cola drinks replacing it with barley malt extract. Marks & Spencer said none of its soft drinks contain aspartame or artificial flavouring and has already banned the use of more than 50% of the additives permitted by the EU especially those associated with health concerns over food intolerance and children's diets, including monosodium glutamate (MSG), cyclamates and tartrazine (E102).

Marks & Spencer's children's range of ready meals do not contain added preservatives, artificial colours, flavourings or sweeteners, and the permitted additives used in this range are agreed with the HACSG. The founder and secretary of the Group, Sally Bunday, said moves by major supermarket chains like Sainsbury's to remove harmful additives from children's food and drinks was "fantastic", adding that this is an important public health issue "which manufacturers can no longer brush under the carpet". The HACSG is putting together a research project scrutinising the policies of supermarkets on artificial colours and flavourings.

Lizzy Vann, of the Organix range of babyfoods said that they would like to see an outright ban on artificial additives in all children's food. "The fact is", she said, "small children are subjected to all sorts of ingredients that we just don't know enough about."

FOOD ADDITIVE RESEARCH SEPTEMBER 2007 FINDINGS

New research into food additives commissioned by the FSA (Foods Standards Agency) and carried out at Southampton University was published in the medical journal The Lancet on September 6, 2007. The findings support similar research done in 2000 ( the Isle of Wight study), which showed a definite link between food additives and behavioural problems such as temper tantrums, poor concentration, hyperactivity and allergic reactions.

In this latest study, the effects of a combination of artificial colourings and preservative sodium benzoate (E211) that are commonly used in the preparation of sweets, drinks and processed foods in the UK, was tested on groups of 3-year-old and 8 to 9-year-old children. The colours tested were tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124) sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), quinoline yellow (E104) and allura red AC (E129). While these additives are widely used in the UK ( and are approved as safe by the EU), some of the colours have already been banned in Scandinavia and the US.

The 2000 Isle of Wight study concluded that "significant changes in children's behaviour could be produced by the removal of colourings and additives from their diet, and benefit would accrue to all children from such a change and not just to those already showing hyperactive behaviour or who are at risk of allergic reactions".

We at the HACSG wonder how many more scientific studies will have to be done before it becomes generally accepted that certain artificial food additives can seriously damage our children's health, as well as our own. As has been noted on many occasions, these additives add nothing to the the nutritional value of the foods concerned. Recent attempts to introduce healthier diets in schools have met with the rejection of children who have become accustomed to the highly-flavoured and attractive-looking "snacks" and drinks proffered to them by the food industry.

FOOD MANUFACTURERS TARGET CHILDREN ON THE WWW. July, 2007

According to The Guardian, some of the world's leading food manufacturer's have begun marketing their products to children using social networking sites and internet chat programs. Brands such as MacDonald's and Starburst are using the internet to target children now that new rules have made it difficult to advertise during children's television viewing hours.

This strategy has caused concern among MPs, who said the government's clampdown on "junk food" advertising on television was failing because manufacturers were diverting their efforts to the internet. In response to findings published in The Guardian (July 31, 2007), the Dept. of Health said it had already expressed its concerns to food and drink manufacturers and advertisers and was "closely monitoring the change in the nature and balance of food advertising".

Advertising to children on the internet is, according to The Guardian report, a largely unregulated area, not covered by the authority of the media regulator Ofcom, and although the Advertising Standards Authority's code of conduct extends to include online marketing to children, anything classed as "editorial" is exempt from the ASA rules, thus allowing a loophole that many brands exploit.

Since April of 2007, advertising for brand products classed as high in fat, salt and sugar have been banned in, or around, programmes made for children, or which are likely to appeal to children aged between four to nine. (Extended to programmes aimed at 4 to 15 year olds in January 2008). Social networking sites are used by more than 70% of young internet users.