Banned additives in children's medicines

Research carried out by the Food Commission has found that just one of 41 medications intended for children was free of additives, while many contained a cocktail of colourings, sweeteners and preservatives that can trigger allergic reactions such as rashes, eye irritation, stomach upsets and diarrhoea.

Many brands examined in the study by the Food Commission, which campaigns for food safety, are commonly found in family medicine cupboards. The researchers called for warnings on all medications that could trigger allergic reactions.