The Blue Smartie and the Removal of Nasties.
The image shows the blue Smartie replaced by a white one due to health concerns. Children were not in favour of the brown one which was once coffee flavoured either. (image by wiki)The E number struggle.Nestle Smarties will be recognisable to children in the UK as colourful, pill sized sweets. They are also marketed in Canada, Germany and doubtless imported elsewhere. These confections have been the source of much controversy which lead to the banning of the blue Smartie. In 1990 concerns were raised because of their adverse effects on children. The most common complaint from parents being hyperactivity. Despite fears, no concrete evidence that Smarties were carcinogenic was confirmed.Smarties used to contain a variety of E numbers (E meaning that the chemical had been given the green light for use in Europe.) Among these were E112 (red), E110 (Sunset Yellow), E124 (Ponceau).Blue Smarties were removed from sale and replaced with white ones as a substitute could not be found. White was in the end also withdrawn because of the sweet’s likeness to a tablet.
(Spirulina is a blue green seaweed which grows in alkaline waters. (image by wiki)Today the blue Smartie is perhaps less attractive in colour, but safer. It is a pastel blue and naturally coloured with the seaweed Spirulina. The change is good for parents and Kids alike. Now the sweets can be enjoyed without side effects or concerns.
