Children's medicine contains banned additives

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Children's medicine contains banned additives

By Celia Hall, Medical Editor

Last Updated: 1:55am GMT 10/03/2007

Many over-the-counter medicines for babies and children contain a

cocktail of additives that are banned in food aimed at under threes, a

report reveals today.

Sweeteners, artificial colours and preservatives were found in cough

syrups, paracetamol tablets and teething gels by the Food Commission.

Some of the additives can cause reactions such as asthma, rashes, eye

irritation or have a mild laxative effect.

One pain and fever relief product contained eight E numbers, while

only one of the medicines surveyed was free of colourings and

preservatives, according to the campaign group's research. Often,

details of the additives could only be found in leaflets inside the packs.

Ian Tokelove, a co-author of the report, said: " When a child is ill

parents will reach for one of the many medicines specifically sold for

young children. But how many parents will read through the small print

where the ingredients and possible side effects are listed? "

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The group wants to see the level of additives reduced and the use of

artificial colours and sweeteners changed to natural alternatives.

But last night, Dr Hamish Meldrum, the chairman of the British Medical

Association's GPs' committee, said parents should not be unduly worried.

" The amounts of preservatives and sweeteners contained in these

medicines are very small, " he said. " Children also fall ill fairly

infrequently so do not need to take these medicines very often. The

risk of an adverse reaction is therefore marginal.

" In my experience, and with talking to other GPs, adverse reactions to

additives in medicines is not something we come across a lot. Parents

should definitely not stop giving their children these medicines

without seeking medical advice. "

Colours, preservatives and sweeteners are not permitted in infant food

under European regulations.

The Food Commission chose at random 41 medicines for babies and

children and has produced a chart for The Food Magazine.

One contained eight E numbers, many others four, five or six E numbers.

The researchers identified four synthetic colourings called azo dyes,

10 preservatives and six sweeteners across the products surveyed.

Buttercup infant cough syrup had two E number dyes, while Calpol

paracetamol, Anbesol teething gel, Sudafed children's syrup and

Superdrug children's chesty cough syrup contained one azo dye each.

The report says: " There is an increasingly wide range of natural

colourings which food manufacturers can turn to, rather than using

these synthetic azo dyes. "

Preservatives were present in 31 of the 41 medicines surveyed.

Benzoate preservatives, E210 to E219 were the most commonly present.

Reactions to benzoates can be delayed, some of the products warned.

One product Tixylix Night Cough syrup, aimed at children aged over one

year old, contained benzoate and sulphite preservatives, the Food

Commission found. Some medicines contained the sweeteners sorbitol,

maltitol and xylitol, which can have a mild laxative effect in high doses.

" We think all the information should be on the outside packaging.

People should be more aware of what is in the medicines, " Mr Tokelove

said.

" We believe the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

(MHRA) should look into this aspect of children's medicine. "

A spokesman for the MHRA said all medicines for children were

evaluated and approved. Unlike foods eaten daily, medicines were only

used when necessary.

" The function and usefulness of all additives in medicines must be

justified by the manufacturer before they can get a licence to market

the medicine, " she said.

The evaluation takes into account the quantity of additives, the

frequency with which the medicine will be used and the medical

condition to be treated. Most medicines cannot be manufactured, stored

and administered without some additional formulation ingredients.

" Unnecessary additives are discouraged and the manufacturer may be

required to re-formulate the medicine before it can be approved " .

A spokesman for Calpol said almost all medicines used colouring and

flavouring agents to help consumers identify them and make them more

acceptable to use.