The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7449 p485
28 April 2007

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Letters to the Editor

Children's medicines

Avoid ingredients associated with ADRs

From Dr K. E. Neil, MRPharmS

Azo dyes (eg, sunset yellow, E110) and benzoates (eg, sodium benzoate, E211) continue to be used in liquid formulations for children as colourings and preservatives, respectively. Since alternatives are available, surely ingredients associated with adverse effects, particularly allergic reactions such as asthma, should be avoided. These formulations are also extremely sweet, a taste which now may be unfamiliar to many children because parents are advised not to them give sugary food. The current level of sucrose or artificial sweeteners, therefore, also seems excessive.

A well known producer of children’s snacks is campaigning for these and many other ingredients, including some artificial sweeteners, to be banned from children’s foods. I suggest that the pharmaceutical industry should also ban artificial additives that are potentially harmful to children’s health and behaviour.

Karen E. Neil
Nottingham

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