A new report has fingered Cadbury and 300 other manufacturers for continuing to use additives linked to hyperactivity in children.

Independent watchdog the Food Commission has listed 1,000 food, drink and medicine items on an online database containing one or more of the seven E-numbers named in a recent FSA-backed study.

A total of 300 different suppliers appear on the database. According to the Commission the biggest offender was Cadbury, which has 41 UK lines, including Cadbury Creme Egg and Trident Splash gum, that contain the suspect additives.

"Cadbury made a lot of noise last year, promising to reformulate by the end of 2008, yet it seems to be bringing out even more products containing these additives," said a Commission spokesman. "We have already seen a new Easter pack of Mini Egg branded cakes with two of the suspect additives in them. This does not strike me as the actions of a company committed to cutting out these colours."

The Commission said it had already written to 77 of the manufacturers whose products are included on the database.

The majority of the 26 that replied said they were in the process of reformulating products. But while the Commission could not confirm if Cadbury was among the respondents, it was scathing about the confectionery giant, highlighting over 100 products still for sale to children containing the additives around the world. "With the apparent exception of Cadbury, the bigger manufacturers seem to be making real inroads in this area. However there are hundreds, maybe thousands of products from SMEs still brimming with artificial additives," a Commission spokesman claimed. "The FSA may not be inclined to take any legislative action but we do not think it has effectively communicated with small businesses the dangers of these additives."

A CTB spokesman insisted it was still on track with reformulation programmes: "We can confirm we've listened to consumers and are committed to replacing all artificial colours in our sweets by the end of this year. We note the Southam-pton study findings although we had already begun a programme to replace artificial colours in our biggest brands such as Bassett's Liquorice Allsorts and Jelly Babies [before it was published].

"All other sweet brands will now also switch before the end of 2008."

Cadbury has also launched a range free of artificial colours under The Natural Confectionery Company brand, he said. "We're disappointed but not surprised by the Commission. It is a typically one-eyed approach and disregards the ongoing reformulation."

The possible adverse health effects of seven 'danger' additives were highlighted in an FSA-commissioned Southampton University study into the effect of synthetic colours and preservatives on children's health and behaviour in September last year.

The FSA has not banned the food additives but has asked the European Food Safety Authority to review the evidence of links between combinations of the E-numbers and increased hyperactivity in kids. EFSA's review is to be published shortly.