Ponceau 4R

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This article is about Ponceau 4R. For other uses, see Ponceau (disambiguation).

Ponceau 4R

1-(4-sulpho-1-napthylazo)- 2-napthol- 6,8-disulphonic acid, trisodium sa

Ponceau 4R is a red azo dye which can be used in a variety of food products, and i

usually synthesized from aromatic hydrocarbons from petroleum.

Contents [hide] 1 Health effects 2 Possible cause of hyperactivity 3 References 4 External links 5 See also

[edit]Health effects

Because it is an azo dye, it may elicit intolerance in people allergic to salicylates (aspirin).

Additionally, it is a histamine liberator, and may intensify symptoms of asthma.

Ponceau 4R is considered carcinogenic in some countries, including the USA, Norway, and Finland,

and it is currently listed as a banned substance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA). ^[2]

Since 2000, the FDA has seized Chinese-produced haw flakes (a fruit candy)

on numerous occasions for containing Ponceau 4R.[1]

EFSA has decided on 2009-09-23 to lower the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for Ponceau 4R from 4 mg/kg to

0.7 mg/kg bodyweight per day. The substance causes increased migration of nuclear DNA in glandular stomach,

bladder (≥ 100 mg/kg) and colon tissue (≥ 10 mg/kg). Clastogenic activity was seen in bone marrow at dosages

equivalent to an intake ≥ 80 mg/kg, but no carcinogenic effects were noted. The production process may result in

unsulphonated aromatic amines to be present in concentrations of up to 100 mg/kg which may be linked to cancer.

Also the EFSA panel noted that the JECFA limit for lead is ≤ 2 mg/kg whereas the EC specification is ≤ 10 mg/kg.

The colour additive can also increase the intake of aluminium

beyond the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 1 mg/kg/week.

Therefore the limit for aluminum may become adjusted to accommodate for this. ^[3]

[edit]Possible cause of hyperactivity

On 6 September 2007, the British Food Standards Agency revised advice on certain artificial food additives,

including E124.

Professor Jim Stevenson from Southampton University, and author of the report, said:

"This has been a major study investigating an important area of research.

The results suggest that consumption of certain mixtures of artificial food colours and sodium benzoate preservative

are associated with increases in hyperactive behaviour in children.

"However, parents should not think that simply taking these additives out of food will prevent hyperactive disorders

. We know that many other influences are at work but this at least is one a child can avoid."

The following additives were tested in the research:

• Sunset yellow (E110) (FD&C Yellow #6) - Colouring found in squashes
• Carmoisine (E122) - Red colouring in jellies
• Tartrazine (E102) (FD&C Yellow #5) - Yellow colouring
• Ponceau 4R (E124) - Red colouring
• Sodium benzoate (E211) - Preservative
• Quinoline yellow (E104) - Food colouring
• Allura red AC (E129) (FD&C Red #40) - Orange / red food dye^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

On 10 April 2008, the Foods Standard Agency called for a voluntary removal of the colours (but not sodium benzoate)

by 2009.^[10] In addition, it recommended that there should be action to phase them out in food and drink in the

European Union (EU) over a specified period.^[11]

The EFSA (European Food Safety Agency) has found the results of the Southampton study to be ambiguous

and inconclusive and recommends no changes to current EU regulations pending results of further well designed

testing of colourants.^[12]

UK ministers have agreed that the six colourings will be phased out by 2009.^{[13][dated info]}

[edit]References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Compliance
2. Enforcement/ucm072848.pdf Food and Drug Administration Compliance Program Guidance Manual
3. , Chapter 03 - Foodbourne Biological Hazards, p37
4. ^ Food And Drug Administration Compliance Program Guidance Manual p.10
5. ^ "EFSA Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Ponceau 4R (E 124) as a food additive". 091113 efsa.europa.eu
7. ^ Parents warned of additives link
8. ^ Graham Tibbetts. "Artificial colourings as harmful as leaded petrol for children", Telegraph, 7 April 2008
9. ^ "Artificial food colouring warning", BBC News, May 8, 2007.
10. ^ Felicity Lawrence, "New fears over additives in children's food", The Guardian, May 8, 2007.
11. ^ Laura Clout, "Warning over food additives", The Telegraph, May 8, 2007.
12. ^ Graeme Paton and Adam Stones, "New evidence links E-numbers to hyperactivity", The Telegraph, May 9, 2007.
13. ^ BBC Europe-wide food colour ban call 10 April 2008
14. ^ FSA Board discusses colours advice 10 April 2008
15. ^ EFSA Assessment of the results of the study by McCann et al. (2007) on the effect of some
16. colours and sodium benzoate on children’s behaviour 8 March 2008
17. ^ BBC Ministers agree food colour ban 12 November 2008

[edit]

External links

• Technical Data Sheet Ponceau 4R of CORALIM aditivos www.coralim.com
• Carcinogenic Potency Database Project entry for SX purple, alias Ponceau 4R
• Some more details, other common names

[edit]See also

• Ponceau family of Azo dyes

Takeaway dishes high in illegal colourings, says study

The meals can contain high levels of salt, fat and artificial colourings, the study suggests

• Curry chefs learn healthy cuisine
• Salt in hospital meals 'too high'
• Warning over salt levels in curry

Two of the nation's favourite Indian and Chinese takeaway dishes can contain illegally high levels of certain colourings, a snapshot study suggests.

High levels of salt and saturated fat were also detected in chicken tikka masala and sweet and sour chicken meals at 223 takeaways in England and Wales.
And the Local Government Group study says that when nut-free chicken tikkas were ordered, 20% still contained nuts.
The Department of Health said labelling was key.
The analysis of 90 Indian takeaways was based on a portion of chicken tikka masala and pilau rice.
The Food Standards Agency has called for a voluntary ban on artificial colourings including sunset yellow (E110), allura red (E129), tartrazine (E102) and ponceau 4R (E124) because of their reported link to hyperactivity in some children.
When the sauces from 25 of the meals were tested for the colourings, five of the dishes were found to contain levels above the permitted maximum of 500mg/kg allowed under current food regulations.
The study also found that the Indian meals contained 116% of an individual's daily recommended saturated fat intake and 92% of their salt intake.
A similar analysis of sweet and sour chicken and fried rice from 133 Chinese takeaways discovered that the dish contained 119% of the recommended daily salt intake and 16 teaspoons of sugar, 75% of the recommended daily limit.
Eating too much salt is linked to high blood pressure, which can also increase the risk of developing heart disease.
Recommended dietary salt levels vary with age. Adults are recommended to have no more than 6g of salt per day in their diet, while toddlers should have no more than 2g.
Analysis of 11 sauces of the sweet and sour chicken meals found one contained illegally high levels of the colourings.
Nut danger
When buying some of the chicken tikka masala meals, it was stressed that the customer had a nut allergy.
Despite this, one in five of these takeaways contained peanuts or almonds without any warnings being provided. Just a small amount of nuts can be fatal for someone with a severe allergy.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

There are many ways to make takeaways more healthy such as using lower fat oils, natural colourings and reducing salt. ”

End Quote Paul Bettison Local Government Association

The Local Government Association said local authorities should work with "ethnic kitchens" to make sure false information was not provided when customers requested a meal which does not contain nuts.

On two occasions the meat found in sweet and sour chicken meals was actually turkey.
Pre-packaged meals sold in shops are required to carry details of artificial colourings.
A spokesman from the Department of Health said there are plans to give takeaway outlets guidelines on how to label their products.
"The government's Responsibility Deal includes actions that can be taken by restaurants and takeaways, for example by providing calorie information for food and drink.
"Whilst this work has to date focused on larger, chain restaurants, guidance for smaller businesses will be produced in due course. This will help maximise the opportunities for people to see, and use, calorie labelling."
Councillor Paul Bettison, chairman of the Local Government Regulation Board which carried out the study of takeaway meals, said that the high levels of fat, salt and sugar in them were "truly shocking and unnecessary".
"There's no excuse for illegal amounts of colouring and as for secretly using a cheaper type of meat, that's just shamefully ripping off customers. And including nuts when you've been told a person suffers from a nut allergy is unforgivable, it could potentially kill them.
"There are many ways to make takeaways more healthy such as using lower fat oils, natural colourings and reducing salt. These needn't compromise taste and promoting such a healthy approach often attracts customers who're keen to watch their waistline or their blood pressure."

More on This Story

Related Stories

• Curry chefs learn healthy cuisine 03 FEBRUARY 2011, HEALTH
• Salt in hospital meals 'too high' 10 OCTOBER 2010, HEALTH
• Warning over salt levels in curry 29 APRIL 2010, HEALTH
• How Britain got the hots for curry 26 NOVEMBER 2009, MAGAZINE
• High fat level found in takeaways 26 JUNE 2008, HEALTH

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• Local Government Group
• Department of Health

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NHS hospital management by overseas firms 'discussed'

MPs are due to debate the health bill this week

NHS shake-up

Senior officials have discussed handing the management of up to 20 English NHS hospitals to overseas companies, emails released by the government indicate.

Talks included plans for 10 to 20 hospitals but starting with one hospital at a time, the Observer says.
It comes as Lib Dem peer Shirley Williams said she had "huge concerns" over the NHS reform plans.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley says claims the government aims to privatise the NHS are "ludicrous scaremongering".
The emails were released after a Freedom of Information request by non-profit investigations organisation Spinwatch, which monitors public relations and spin.
They are reported to show that consulting firm McKinsey was acting as a broker between the Department of Health and "international players" for contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
One email talks about "interest in new solution for 10-20 hospitals but starting from a mindset of one at a time with various political constraints".
The Observer reported that the "international hospital provider groups" would want certain conditions regarding taking over the hospitals, such as "a free hand on staff management", but that the NHS would be allowed to "keep real estate and pensions".

---

In any market, there is always a rump of organisations that struggle. The NHS is no different - and for the past 20 years successive governments have been wondering what to do with them.
The 10-20 figure represents less than a tenth of trusts. They tend to be the most badly run, attract the least patients and have the largest debts. If they were private sector groups they would simply shrivel and die.
But the natural reaction of the NHS is to look at new ways of running them. This can involve parachuting in NHS managers from top-performing hospitals, mergers with larger organisations or - as these emails show - bringing in the private sector.
This model has already been proposed for one hospital - Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire. Under the plans, private managers will run the trust but the services will remain NHS.
However, there is a growing consensus that there needs to be a more brutal approach - the closure of some units.

The Department of Health said it was not unusual to hold meetings with external organisations and that NHS staff and assets would always remain wholly owned by the NHS.

The government is in the process of trying to overhaul the way the NHS in England works, giving GPs and other clinicians much more responsibility for spending and encouraging greater competition with the private sector.
The controversial plans have been labelled some of the most radical in the history of the health service.
Legal duty
Mr Lansley said: "The reality is that we're giving more power and choice to patients over how they get treated, keeping waiting times low and cutting bureaucracy so more cash gets to the front line.
"We will not allow these lies to block the progress we want to achieve for patients."
The government's plans were put on hold in the spring after criticisms from MPs and health unions. A series of concessions to the Health and Social Care Bill were proposed and MPs will debate the legislation this week.
Meanwhile, Lady Williams said the battle over bill was "far from over" and the reforms "need not mean upheaval and disintegration".
'Flawed US system'
Writing in the Observer, she said: "The central issue is whether, if the bill is passed without further amendment, there will be any legal duty... to provide and secure a comprehensive health service for the people of England, free at the point of need - the heart of what the NHS is all about."
She added: "I am not against a private element in the NHS, which may bring innovation and good practice, provided it is within the framework of a public service - complementary but not wrecking.
"But why have they been bewitched by a flawed US system?"
Her comments follow renewed demonstrations against the reforms this weekend by health workers across England.
Candlelit vigils and protests were held in areas including London, Reading, Cambridge, Norwich, Sunderland, Manchester, Brighton, Leeds and Portsmouth.
Christina McAnea, head of health at the union Unison, said: "People are rightly proud of an NHS that puts patient need before private profit, and voting through this Bill will be the end of the NHS as we know it."

UN more worried about its logo than human rights abuse 26 August

A Totobiegosode woman after she was forced out of the forest, Paraguayan Chaco. © Ruedi Suter/Survival

STOP PRESS

August 31st, 2011

Yaguarete has now reinstated the UN Global Compact logo on its website.

++++++++++++++++++++

Ayoreo Indians in Paraguay have been left amazed by the UN’s reaction to a formal complaint they issued against cattle ranching company Yaguarete Pora.

In May, Ayoreo leaders issued a formal complaint against the company’s involvement in the UN Global Compact, an initiative allegedly designed to encourage businesses to comply with environmental and human rights principles.

The Ayoreo pointed out that the company has been found guilty of illegally clearing forest in their ancestral territory and withholding evidence proving that uncontacted Ayoreo Indians are living there.

The UN’s response to the Indians’ request that it remove the company from the initiative stated, ‘We have neither the resources nor the mandate to conduct investigations into any of our participants.’

But now the UN has written to Yaguarete. However, far from taking issue with its human rights abuses, the UN complained that Yaguarete was displaying its logo without having filled in the necessary form, and asked it to remove the logo from its website.

Now you see it........................................................ Now you don't © Survival

The Global Compact logo immediately disappeared from the company’s website.

Uncontacted Indians could be wiped out if the cattle ranchers continue to destroy the forest on which the Indians depend for their surviva
l

Brazil Kaxinawa Indian 'may be world's oldest woman'

If Maria's birth certificate is right, she is nearly six years older than the verified oldest living woman

A Brazilian Indian who celebrates her birthday on Saturday may be the oldest woman in the world - and by some distance.

Maria Lucimar Pereira, a member of the Kaxinawa tribe, is 121 years old, says a tribal rights group.
It says she has a birth certificate showing she was born in 1890.
But the Guinness Book of Records says she has not been registered with them. The verified oldest living woman is 115-year-old American Besse Cooper.
Maria puts her longevity down to a healthy lifestyle, Survival International said - with regular dishes including grilled meat, monkey, fish, the root vegetable manioc and banana porridge, and no salt, sugar or processed foods.
She has never lived in a city and does not speak Portuguese, only the language of her tribe, the Kaxinawa, which inhabits Brazil's western Amazon and eastern Peru.
She remains physically active, community leader Carlos told Survival - walking around the village telling stories and visiting grandchildren in neighbouring areas.

Maria says she will spend her birthday with her family

Maria says she will spend her birthday with her family.
The pictures of Maria were taken by employees of the INSS - the national social security institute - when she responded to a request, broadcast on public radio, to appear at the regional INSS office, Brazilian media reported.
Brazilians over the age of 110 are asked to visit their local offices to prove that they are still alive in order to receive pensions or other benefits.
Troubles
Guinness World Records told the BBC it had no record of contact from Maria Lucimar Pereira or anyone on her behalf. It said the oldest verified living person remained Besse Cooper.
"We would be very interested in hearing from anyone who believes they are older than this [and] can provide documentary evidence," the company's Damian Field said.
Survival says her birth certificate, which it has a copy of, was issued in 1985.
It paints a picture of the troubles Maria may have lived through, such as the rubber boom which saw many Indians enslaved and killed.
"All too often we witness the negative effects forced change can have on indigenous peoples," Survival director Stephen Corry said.
"It is refreshing to see a community that has retained strong links to its ancestral land and enjoyed the undeniable benefits of this."

Journal editor resigns over 'problematic' climate paper

The paper claimed mainstream climate models misunderstood the role of clouds

• 
  

The editor of a science journal has resigned after admitting that a recent paper casting doubt on man-made climate change should not have been published.

The paper, by US scientists Roy Spencer and William Braswell, claimed that computer models of climate inflated projections of temperature increase.
It was seized on by "sceptic" bloggers, but attacked by mainstream scientists.
Wolfgang Wagner, editor of Remote Sensing journal, says he agrees with their criticisms and is stepping down.

I stand behind the science contained in the paper”

End Quote Dr Roy Spencer University of Alabama

"Peer-reviewed journals are a pillar of modern science," he writes in a resignation note published in Remote Sensing.

"Their aim is to achieve highest scientific standards by carrying out a rigorous peer review that is, as a minimum requirement, supposed to be able to identify fundamental methodological errors or false claims.
"Unfortunately, as many climate researchers and engaged observers of the climate change debate pointed out in various internet discussion fora, the paper by Spencer and Braswell... is most likely problematic in both aspects and should therefore not have been published."
Heated debate
The paper became a cause celebre in "sceptical" circles through its claim that mainstream climate models inflated temperature projections through misunderstanding the role of clouds in the climate system and the rate at which the Earth radiated heat into space.
This meant, it said, that projections of temperature rise made in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports were too high.

Dr Spencer is a committed Christian as well as a professional scientist

The paper, published in July, was swiftly attacked by scientists in the mainstream of climate research.
They also commented on the fact that the paper was not published in a journal that routinely deals with climate change. Remote Sensing's core topic is methods for monitoring aspects of the Earth from space.
Publishing in "off-topic" journals is generally frowned on in scientific circles, partly because editors may lack the specialist knowledge and contacts needed to run a thorough peer review process.
In essence, Dr Wagner, a professor of remote sensing at Vienna University of Technology, is blaming himself for this failing.
But he also blames the researchers themselves for not referencing all the relevant research in their manuscript.
"The problem is that comparable studies published by other authors have already been refuted..., a fact which was ignored by Spencer and Braswell in their paper and, unfortunately, not picked up by the reviewers.
"In other words, the problem I see with the paper... is not that it declared a minority view (which was later unfortunately much exaggerated by the public media) but that it essentially ignored the scientific arguments of its opponents.
"This latter point was missed in the review process, explaining why I perceive this paper to be fundamentally flawed and therefore wrongly accepted by the journal."
'Honourable course'
Scientific papers that turn out to be flawed or fraudulent are usually retracted by the journals that publish them, with editorial resignations a rarity.
But Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, said Dr Wagner had done the decent thing.

Nasa's Aqua satellite provides data on clouds, rain, ice and other earth parameters

"It was a mistake, he's owned up to it and taken an honourable course, and I think he's to be commended for it," he told BBC News.
"I think it remains to be seen whether the authors follow a similar course."
Mr Ward described the tactic of publishing in off-topic journals as a "classic tactic" of scientists dismissive of man-made climate change.
"Those who recognise that their ideas are weak but seek to get them into the literature by finding weaknesses in the peer review system are taking a thoroughly disreputable approach," he said.
Roy Spencer, however, told BBC News: "I stand behind the science contained in the paper itself, as well as my comments published on my blog at drroyspencer.com.
"Our university press release necessarily put our scientific results in lay language, and what we believe they mean in the larger context of global warming research. This is commonly done in press statements made by the IPCC and its scientists, too, when reporting on research which advocates the view that climate change is almost entirely caused by humans.
"The very fact that the public has the perception that climate change is man-made, when in fact there is as yet no way to know with any level of scientific certainty how much is man-made versus natural, is evidence of that."
Dr Spencer is one of the team at the University of Alabama in Huntsville that keeps a record of the Earth's temperature as determined from satellite readings.
He is also on the board of directors of the George C Marshall Institute, a right-wing thinktank critical of mainstream climate science, and an advisor to the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, an evangelical Christian organisation that claims policies to curb climate change "would destroy jobs and impose trillions of dollars in costs" and "could be implemented only by enormous and dangerous expansion of government control over private life".