- Concerns are also raised about 53 food products with increased side effects due to using compound colors 

  * Green Food Zone (Children’s Food Safety and Protection Zone): To protect young students from junk foods, the Korean government decided to ban fast foods and soda within 200 meters of the selected schools. These junk food-free school areas are called "Green Food Zones". (Source: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety)  

  The Korea Consumer Agency (www.kca.go.kr) recently conducted testing and research on 100 food products (including confectionary goods and candies) and sold at stationery stores and small shops located in Green Food Zone in front of 30 elementary schools in Seoul Metropolitan area. According to the research result, tar coloring was found in 73 items out of the 100. 
 
  In particular, Food Red (Coloring) No. 102 was found in three out 15 gums, which are quite popular among children. The use of the Coloring is prohibited in Children’s Favorite Foods*. However, as gums are not designated as Children’s Favorite Foods, there is no method to impose sanctions against them in reality.  

  *Children's Favorite Food: Foods are popular and frequently consumed by children, designated under Presidential Decree (Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on the Safety Management of Children's Dietary Life). 

  Also, 53 food products were found to use compound colors (more than two colors), although it is reported that side effects of colors increase if used as a mix.  

  The Agency also investigated tar color content in 30 products and found that four products (13.3%) contained up to twice as much as Food Yellow (Coloring) No. 5 and Food Red (Coloring) 102 as the EU’s food coloring standards. In the EU region, those colorings are regulated to carry warning labels saying ‘The food color may worsen the behavior and attention in children’. 

  Unlike the EU, foods that can use tar colors are designated in Korea. However, there is no restriction or standard in place for how much tar coloring can be used for foods. 

  Based on these results, the Agency is going to make a request for: 1) ban on using tar coloring in children’s favorite foods; 2) stricter restriction on using tar food coloring in general foods and introduction of tar coloring standard; and 3) strengthened operation and management of Green Food Zone to the Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA) to secure food safety for children.

  As tar colors are found in large number of food products sold in the Green Food Zone* in front of elementary schools, children and parents are advised to take special cautions. Regulations of tar colors are recently tightened up globally as they might adversely affect children behavior and attention. Also, significant number of the foods was found to be high calorie foods with low nutritional values (HCFLNV) which may cause obesity or nutritional imbalances.