CHRONIC TOXICITY STUDIES ON FOOD COLOURS: Part IV. Observations on the Toxicity of Tartrazine, Amaranth and Sunset Yellow in Rats

Abstract

Abstract Tartrazine, amaranth and sunset yellow fed at concentrations of 0ṁ03, 0ṁ3, and 1ṁ5 per cent of the diet for 64 weeks, did not increase mortality in male or female rats. Amaranth, at a level of 1ṁ5 per cent, caused a significant decrease in growth rate in female, but not male, rats. This was attributed to an effect on food utilisation rather than on food consumption. Female rats fed amaranth at 0ṁ3 and 1ṁ5 per cent concentrations showed an increase in the weight of the liver. At the higher concentration there was also an increase in kidney weight. Histopathological studies were made on the lung, heart, liver, spleen, thyroid, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, kidney, urinary bladder, adrenal, testis, prostate, coagulating gland, ovary, uterus, and thymus. None of the changes observed were considered to be due to the ingestion of the food colours. There was no significant difference in tumour incidence between the control animals and the rats receiving the colours.