Tartrazine

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Tartrazine (otherwise known as E102 or FD&C Yellow 5) is a synthetic lemon yellow azo dye used as a food coloring. It is derived from coal tar. It is water soluble^[1] and has a max absorbance in an aqueous solution at 427±2^[2] nm.

Tartrazine is a very commonly used color all over the world - mainly because it is one of the cheapest synthetic colors^{[citation needed]} - obviously used for yellow, but can also be used with E133 Brilliant Blue FCF (FD&C Blue 1) or E142 Green S to produce various green shades.

Contents 1 Products containing tartrazine 1.1 Foods 1.2 Non-food products 1.3 Medications 2 Sensitivities and intolerance 3 Possible health effects 4 Regulation 5 Myths 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Products containing tartrazine

[edit] Foods

Many foods contain Tartrazine, depending on the manufacturer or the cook in charge; however, for several decades (since the 1950s) they have been known to frequently have various proportions of it, while nowadays the trend is to avoid its addition, or to substitute natural dyeing substances for it, like annatto, malt color, or betacarotene (see Sensitivities & Intolerance, below).

Products including Tartrazine commonly include confectionery, cotton candy, soft drinks, instant puddings, flavored chips (Doritos, Nachos, etc), cereals (corn flakes, muesli, etc.), cake mixes, pastries, custard powder, soups (particularly instant or "cube" soups), sauces, some rices (like paella, risotto, etc.), Kool-Aid, Gatorade, ice cream, ice lollies, candy, chewing gum, marzipan, jam, jelly, gelatins, marmalade, mustard, horseradish, yogurt, noodles, pickles and other pickled products, certain brands of fruit squash, fruit cordial, chips, tim tams, and many convenience foods together with glycerin, lemon and honey products.

[edit] Non-food products

Soaps, cosmetics, shampoos and other hair products, moisturizers, crayons and stamp dyes.

[edit] Medications

Vitamins, antacids, medicinal capsules and certain prescription drugs.

[edit] Sensitivities and intolerance

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Tartrazine appears to cause the most allergic and intolerance reactions of all the azo dyes, particularly among asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.^[3] Symptoms from tartrazine sensitivity can occur by either ingestion or cutaneous exposure to a substance containing tartrazine.^{[citation needed]}

A variety of immunologic responses have been attributed to Tartrazine ingestion, including anxiety, migraines, clinical depression, blurred vision, itching, general weakness, heatwaves, feeling of suffocation, purple skin patches, and sleep disturbance.^{[citation needed]} Some claim to experience symptoms of tartrazine sensitivity even at extremely small doses, and up to 72 hours after exposure.^{[citation needed]} In children, asthma attacks and hives have been claimed, including supposed links to thyroid tumors, chromosomal damage, hives, and hyperactivity. ^[4]

The mechanism of sensitivity is obscure and has been called pseudoallergic. The prevalence of tartrazine intolerance is estimated at roughly 360,000 Americans affected, about 0.12% of the general population.^{[citation needed]} According to the FDA, tartrazine causes hives in fewer than 1 in 10,000 people, or 0.01%.^[5]

Some researchers have linked tartrazine to childhood Obsessive-compulsive disorder and hyperactivity.^[6]

It is not clear to what extent these problems can be specifically linked to tartrazine in affected individuals. The existence of a sensitivity reaction is well-known, but the existence of more extreme effects remain controversial. The incidence of tartrazine intolerance is fairly low as indicated above, and there is much controversy about whether tartrazine has ill effects on individuals who are not clearly intolerant.

Total avoidance is the most common way to deal with tartrazine sensitivity,^[7] but progress has been made in reducing people’s tartrazine sensitivity in a study of people who are simultaneously sensitive to both aspirin and tartrazine.^[8]

[edit] Possible health effects

On 6 September 2007, the British Food Standards Agency revised advice on certain artificial food additives, including E102.

Professor Jim Stevenson from Southampton University, and author of the report, said: "This has been a major study investigating an important area of research. The results suggest that consumption of certain mixtures of artificial food colours and sodium benzoate preservative are associated with increases in hyperactive behaviour in children.

"However, parents should not think that simply taking these additives out of food will prevent hyperactive disorders. We know that many other influences are at work but this at least is one a child can avoid."

The following additives were tested in the research:

• Sunset yellow (E110) - Coloring found in squashes
• Carmoisine (E122) - Red coloring in jellies
• Tartrazine (E102) - New coloring in lollies, fizzy drinks
• Ponceau 4R (E124) - Red coloring
• Sodium benzoate (E211) - Preservative
• Quinoline yellow (E104) - Food coloring
• Allura red AC (E129) - Orange / red food dye^[9]

On 10 April 2008, the Food Standards Agency called for a voluntary removal of the colors (but not sodium benzoate) by 2009.^[10] In addition, it recommended that there should be action to phase them out in food and drink in the European Union (EU) over a specified period.^[11]

The EFSA (European Food Standards Agency) has reviewed the Southampton Study and found the tests inconclusive and recommended no action in the EU pending further studies on colorants.^{[citation needed]}

Dr. Ben Feingold implicated this colorant in a 1973 hypothesis on hyperactivity, but was cleared of this effect after extensive testing by the colorant manufacturing industry.

[edit] Regulation

Because of the problem of tartrazine intolerance, the United States requires the presence of tartrazine to be declared on food and drug products (21 CFR 74.1705, 21 CFR 201.20) and also the color batch used to be pre-approved by the FDA.^[5] The FDA regularly seizes products found to be containing undeclared tartrazine or if declared but not tested by them or even if labelled other than FD&C yellow 5, these have often included Chinese "egg noodles."[1]

The use of tartrazine is banned in Norway, and was also banned in Austria and Germany until the ban was overturned by a European Union directive^{[citation needed]}.

The United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency called in April 2008 for a voluntary phase-out of Tartrazine along with five other colorings, due to a reported link with hyperactivity in children.^[12]

Organic foods typically use betacarotene as an additive when yellow color is desired and more use has been made of Annatto (E160b) for non-organic foods.

[edit] Myths

Rumors began circulating about Yellow 5 in the 1990s regarding a link to its consumption and adverse affects on male potency, testicle and penis size and sperm count. These rumors most likely were spun from confirmed cases of allergic reactions and sensitivities to Tartrazine in Mountain Dew. There are no documented cases supporting the claim that Yellow 5 will shrink a man's penis or cause it to stop growing.^[13]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Color Additives Information (Food and Drug Administration)
• FDA Docket to delist Yellow #5 (Food and Drug Administration)
• MSDS for Tartrazine (MSDS)
• Electrochemical Studies on a Pharmaceutical Azo Dye: Tartrazine (American Chemical Society)
• Some more details, other common names
• Reuters report on EU discussion of Food Additives ban