Dare To Be Aware | Alternative Healing Portal

Chemical Additives, E numbers, Dyes, Sweeteners found in Children’s Medicines

By Viola Woolcott

Aimed at the under-three’s, a cocktail of additives is found in children’s medicines, which are already banned in food as well as drinks.

In Paracetamol tablets, teething gels and cough mixtures eight E numbers, as well as dangerous dyes, sweeteners and preservatives are added.

41 medicines were closely looked at and there was only one, sold by Superdrug which was totally free from colourings and preservatives. A number of the contained additives could result in asthma or even have the effect like a mild laxative. Most of the ingredients are already banned in certain foods and drinks for the under-threes, but are still allowed and used in the medication of young children.

Right across the analysis of children’s medication four synthetic colourings (azo dyes), ten preservatives as well as six sweeteners were found. As many as 31 out of 41 products were found to contain preservatives. The most common one being found to be benzoates - E210, E211, E212, E213, E214, E215, E216, E217, E218 and E219, with the effects being known to include skin rashes, wheezing and hyperactivity. Shocking to know that only some of the medications carry warnings of possible additive side effects.

For example, researchers found that ‘Buttercup infant syrup’ contained two E number dyes. Anbesol teething gel, Sudafed children’s syrup, Calpol, Paracetamol as well as Superdrug children’s chesty cough mixture all contain azo dye as an ingredient. The night cough mixture Tixylix contains benzoate and sulphite preservatives and is sold for children who are above one year old. A great deal of children’s medicines contain sweeteners such as xylitol, maltitol and sorbitol, which are known to cause laxative effects in high or frequent doses.

Before getting a license to market a product, manufacturers are required to justify the ingredients and the additives, which are also normally listed inside the medicine packaging as well as on the medicine. I would suggest that you check the medicine at the time when you buy it.

No doubt, but natural colourings are an alternative to synthetic azo dyes, as child medicines should be completely additive-free.

Filed under: Dare 2B Aware, Health and Diet on November 28th, 2007