The big pharmaceutical companies make millions of pounds or dollars every year, yet they are regularly causing patients serious harm by their persistent use of artificial colours in the drugs they produce.

Colours such as tartrazine (E102) sunset yellow (E110) and erythrosine (E127), all artificial colourants known to cause health problems are regularly found in many drugs.

This must be stopped for the sake of peoples' health. They want the medicine they are taking to make them well, not cause further health problems.

A classic example is the liquid antibiotics given to young children. The drug companies colour these liquids with bright colours, artificial bright colours. The problem with this is that many youngsters who require medicine are hyperactive. The medicine makes them 10 times worse! 

My reason for starting this petition is because I recently required a specific anti inflammatory drug that is only available on prescription. I had to return a pack of pills, and request a lower dosage as the higher dose contained E110 a substance to which I am allergic.

It defies belief that when there are so many natural colours available that drug companies are still poisoning the end consumer with unnatural substances.

I hope that many others will wish to see an end to this practice