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A detailed inventory will be made of TDS samples held at LGC. This will involve the examination of almost 5000 samples, out of which food groups that could contain colours will be identified. The initial shortlist will then be matched against the relevant legislation. Colour standards will be procured and their purity checked by measuring the absorbance of prepared solutions at wavelengths at which maximum absorbance occurs. LGC will use traditional methods for the extraction of colours as well as a methanol-based extraction method.
The Agency's Total Diet Study (TDS) is a part of a surveillance programme for chemicals in food and is carried out on a continuous annual basis. The information is also used to provide an estimate of the average intake of some food constituents. This project will evaluate whether total diet study samples can be used to assess trends in additive usage with specific emphasis on colours.
<p>Find more about this project and other FSA food safety-related projects at the <a href="http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/" target="_blank">Food Standards Agency Research webpage</a>.