First Minister raises a glass as Europe backs down on Irn-Bru colour ban

THE secret recipe of “Scotland’s other national drink” will not be changed after European politicians scaled back plans to restrict the use of a crucial colouring.

Irn-Bru lovers, including First Minister Alex Salmond, feared for the future of the “iconic” recipe as a European health committee met today to decide the minimum permitted level of sunset yellow, the colouring behind its distinctive rusty hue.

The First Minister wrote a letter to John Dalli, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, urging the The European Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health not to reduce the permitted level to 10 milligrams per litre (10 mg/l).

The ruling would have forced Irn-Bru manufacturer AG Barr to half the amount of sunset yellow in the drink.

Mr Salmond wrote: “Both the European Food Safety Authority and our Food Standards Agency consider a 20 mg/l limit poses no risk to consumer health.”

Member states have reduced the level of sunset yellow allowed in food and drink from 50 mg/l to 20 mg/l.

A spokesman for Mr Salmond said the ruling was a victory for the Scottish Government and the Food Standards Agency’s appeals.

The new limit is now likely to be ratified by the European Parliament, safeguarding Irn-Bru’s recipe in European law.

Meanwhile, transport minister Keith Brown visited the AG Barr factory in Cumbernauld to discuss the benefits that the newly-upgraded M80 has had on the company’s distribution.