Medicines for babies and young children often contain additives banned from foods and drinks aimed at under-threes, research has found.
The Food Magazine tested 41 medicines aimed at the under-threes, and found only one was free of the additives.
No colours or sweeteners are permitted in foods and drinks for under-threes and most preservatives are banned.
The survey found four azo dye colourings, eight benzoate and two sulphite preservatives, and six sweeteners contained in the products examined.
Preservatives were present in over thirty, and sweeteners in thirty seven of the medicines surveyed, some medicines even displayed warnings the additives they contained could have harmful side-effects, which included irritation of the skin and eyes, stomach upset and diarrhoea.
The Food Magazine produced by the Food Commission, an independent body campaigning for safer food in the UK.
A spokesperson told the press "Whilst many children will be able to consume these products safely, there will be those who will suffer allergic reactions to these additives.
It is time for medicine manufacturers to clean up their act and remove colourings and artificial sweeteners and replace them with natural alternatives.
Responding to the accusations the Proprietary Association of Great Britain, the trade association for manufacturers of over-the-counter medicines, say that unlike foods, additives in medicines are in very small quantities and are only taken for a short period of time.
Adding - if the MHRA decides a product contains additives that are not strictly necessary, it would request that the medicine is re-formulated before it can be given approval.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the use of all additives in medicines had to be justified by the manufacturer before a licence was granted, but insisted most medicines could not be manufactured, stored or administered without some additional ingredients.
Their spokesperson said 'Medicines can be quite unstable such that preservatives and other additives are necessary to maintain product quality for a reasonable shelf-life' Adding medicines often have an unpleasant taste and require sweeteners and other flavours to help ensure palatability, especially for children.
As for colourings many patients have to take multiple medicines and the colours are an easy aid to identification ensuring they take the right medicine at the right time.
Only additives strictly necessary from a technological point of view and recognised as being without risk to the health of young children are authorised in such foods.