GREEN Party leader George Perdikis yesterday claimed his party had received telephone threats warning them to stop drawing attention to harmful additives in foods.
Speaking at the House of Representatives, Perdikis said his offices had received a number of anonymous phone calls, urging his party to stop fighting against food additives.
“But we will not be deterred in our attempts to protect the Cypriot public, and especially children, from the various additives we believe to be harmful to health,” said Perdikis.
The Green Party’s latest gripe is with colouring agents added to products such as sweets and crisps, which are mainly added to attract children.
Some of these additives, according the Greens, could cause side-affects to allergy sufferers or could even provoke allergies.
“The colouring agents that are allowed are either natural or synthetic, and they are used clearly for aesthetic reasons in order to increase products’ attractiveness,” said Perdikis.
Colorants have been banned by the EU in a number of foodstuffs, including fish, bakery products, butter, fruit juices, fruit and vegetables.
However, a study carried out by the Green Party has shown that there are a number of products aimed at children circulating the Cyprus market, which contain additives that could be harmful.
“We took seven random products aimed mainly at children and checked them for the presence of colouring agents. There are no warnings on the health risks on any of these products,” he pointed out.
These products include:
l A type of cheese puffs with the additives E 110 and E 160b. “E 110 is a synthetic substance which could cause problems for allergic and asthmatic people, especially those who are sensitive to aspirin. And E 160b is a natural additive that could also cause allergies,” Perdikis explained.
l A lolly pop product, containing E 120 (a natural red colorant). This could also cause problems for allergy sufferers, especially if they are allergic to aspirin.
The Green Party also warned consumers to beware of the additives E102, E132, and E129 that can be found in products such as chewing gum or fruit pastilles, and which could provoke allergic reactions.
The letter “E” means that the additive has been approved by the EU. But as Perdikis explained, European food regulations can be revised if new information emerges indicating health dangers.
“How and who is going to protect our children?” Perdikis wondered. “These are products that children have immediate access to.”
Perdikis suggested all households obtain a special booklet by the State Laboratory, which offers exact explanations of each additive and the repercussions their consumption may have.
“The Green Party is proposing the promotion of information programmes for the public on the additives that cause allergies or may pose dangers to the vulnerable categories of consumers, such as children,” he concluded.
