Azorubine
Encyclopedia
Azorubine, carmoisine, Food Red 3, Azorubin S, Brillantcarmoisin O, Acid Red 14, or C.I. 14720 is a synthetic red food dye from the azo dye group. It usually comes as a disodium salt. It is a red to maroon powder. It is used for the purposes where the food is heat-treated after fermentation. It has E number
E122. Some of the foods it can be present in are blancmange
, marzipan
, Swiss roll
, jams, preserves, yoghurt
s, jellies
, breadcrumb
s, and cheesecake
mixes. It is also present in Oraldene Mouthwash.
Color index: EEC No.: E122, C.I. 14720, C.I. Acid Red 14, C.I. Acid Red 14 disodium salt, C.I. Food Red 3
Other names: Azorubine; Brillantcarmoisin O, Schultz Nr. 208; Solar Rubine; Solochrome Blue FB; Standacol carmoisine; Tertracid Red CA; Tertrochrome Blue FB; omega Chrome Blue FB; Nylomine Acid Red P4B; Omega Chrome Blue FB; Poloxal Red 2B; Java Rubine N; Karmesin; Kenachrome Blue 2R; Kiton Crimson 2R; Kiton Rubine R; Cerven kysela 14; Cerven potravinarska 3; Chrome Fast Blue 2R; Chromotrope FB; Cilefa Rubine R; Crimson 2EMBL; Diadem Chrome Blue G; Atul Acid Crystal Red; Acid Brilliant Rubine 2G
or intolerance reactions, particularly amongst those with an aspirin
intolerance. Other reactions can include a rash similar to nettle rash and skin swelling
. Asthma
tics sometimes react badly to it.
It is one of the colourants that the Hyperactive Children's Support Group recommends be eliminated from the diet of children.
Azo dyes generally have been known to be carcinogenic for over 60 years and are linked, particularly, to bladder cancer.
On 6 September 2007, the British Food Standards Agency
revised advice on certain artificial food additives, including E122.
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:
On 10 April 2008, the Foods Standard Agency called for a voluntary removal of the colours (but not sodium benzoate) by 2009. 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.
The EFSA (European Food Standards Agency) has reviewed the Southampton Study and determined that the results are inconclusive and warrant no action at this time in the EU pending the outcome of further testing.
UK ministers have agreed that the six colourings will be phased out by 2009.
Azorubine is commonly used in the UK
and in several other countries in a popular brand of soda and in children's medicine Calpol
, but it is a prohibited food additive in Canada
, Japan
, Norway
, Sweden
and the United States
.
E number
E numbers are number codes for food additives that have been assessed for use within the European Union . They are commonly found on food labels throughout the European Union. Safety assessment and approval are the responsibility of the European Food Safety Authority...
E122. Some of the foods it can be present in are blancmange
Blancmange
Blancmange is a sweet dessert commonly made with milk or cream and sugar thickened with gelatin, cornstarch or Irish moss, and often flavored with almonds. It is usually set in a mould and served cold. Although traditionally white, blancmanges are frequently given a pink color as well...
, marzipan
Marzipan
Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal. Persipan is a similar, yet less expensive product, in which the almonds are replaced by apricot or peach kernels...
, Swiss roll
Swiss roll
A Swiss roll or jelly roll is a type of sponge cake roll. The thin cake is made of eggs, flour and sugar and baked in a very shallow rectangular baking tray, called a sheet pan. The cake is removed from the pan and spread with jam or buttercream, rolled up, and served in circular slices.The...
, jams, preserves, yoghurt
Yoghurt
Yoghurt, yogurt or yogourt is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yoghurt are known as "yoghurt cultures"...
s, jellies
Gelatin dessert
Gelatin desserts are desserts made with sweetened and flavored gelatin. They can be made by combining plain gelatin with other ingredients or by using a premixed blend of gelatin with additives...
, breadcrumb
Breadcrumb
Breadcrumbs or bread crumbs are small particles of dry bread, which are used for breading or crumbing foods, topping casseroles, stuffing poultry, thickening stews, and adding inexpensive bulk to meatloaves and similar foods. They are documented in cookbooks as early as 1716...
s, and cheesecake
Cheesecake
Cheesecake is a dessert consisting of a topping made of soft, fresh cheese, usually on a crust or base made from biscuit , pastry or sponge cake. They may be baked or unbaked...
mixes. It is also present in Oraldene Mouthwash.
Other names
Chemical names: 2-(4-Sulfo-1-naphthylazo)-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid disodium; 4-Hydroxy-3-((4-sulpho-1-naphthalenyl)azo)-1-naphthalenesulphonic acid disodium; Disodium 4-hydroxy-3-((4-sulphonatonaphthyl)azo)naphthalenesulphonateColor index: EEC No.: E122, C.I. 14720, C.I. Acid Red 14, C.I. Acid Red 14 disodium salt, C.I. Food Red 3
Other names: Azorubine; Brillantcarmoisin O, Schultz Nr. 208; Solar Rubine; Solochrome Blue FB; Standacol carmoisine; Tertracid Red CA; Tertrochrome Blue FB; omega Chrome Blue FB; Nylomine Acid Red P4B; Omega Chrome Blue FB; Poloxal Red 2B; Java Rubine N; Karmesin; Kenachrome Blue 2R; Kiton Crimson 2R; Kiton Rubine R; Cerven kysela 14; Cerven potravinarska 3; Chrome Fast Blue 2R; Chromotrope FB; Cilefa Rubine R; Crimson 2EMBL; Diadem Chrome Blue G; Atul Acid Crystal Red; Acid Brilliant Rubine 2G
Possible health effects
It appears to cause allergicAllergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
or intolerance reactions, particularly amongst those with an aspirin
Aspirin
Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...
intolerance. Other reactions can include a rash similar to nettle rash and skin swelling
Swelling (medical)
In medical parlance, swelling is the transient enlargement or protuberance in the body and may include tumors. According to cause, it may be congenital, traumatic, inflammatory, neoplastic or miscellaneous....
. Asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
tics sometimes react badly to it.
It is one of the colourants that the Hyperactive Children's Support Group recommends be eliminated from the diet of children.
Azo dyes generally have been known to be carcinogenic for over 60 years and are linked, particularly, to bladder cancer.
On 6 September 2007, the British Food Standards Agency
Food Standards Agency
The Food Standards Agency is a non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for protecting public health in relation to food throughout the United Kingdom and is led by a board appointed to act in the public interest...
revised advice on certain artificial food additives, including E122.
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 (E110Sunset Yellow FCFSunset Yellow FCF is a synthetic yellow azo dye, manufactured from aromatic hydrocarbons from petroleum. When added to foods, it is denoted by E Number E110...
) (FD&C Yellow #6) - Colouring found in squashes - Carmoisine (E122) - Red colouring in jellies
- Tartrazine (E102) (FD&C Yellow #5) - Yellow colouring
- Ponceau 4R (E124) - Red colouring
- Sodium benzoate (E211) - Preservative
- Quinoline yellow (E104) - Food colouring
- Allura red AC (E129) (FD&C Red #40) - Orange / red food dye
On 10 April 2008, the Foods Standard Agency called for a voluntary removal of the colours (but not sodium benzoate) by 2009. 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.
The EFSA (European Food Standards Agency) has reviewed the Southampton Study and determined that the results are inconclusive and warrant no action at this time in the EU pending the outcome of further testing.
UK ministers have agreed that the six colourings will be phased out by 2009.
Azorubine is commonly used in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and in several other countries in a popular brand of soda and in children's medicine Calpol
Calpol
Calpol is a brand of children's medicine sold in the UK, Ireland, India, Cyprus, Hong Kong and the Philippines. The main product is a paracetamol suspension. It is usually a coloured syrup with a sweet taste, and is used to treat fever and pain...
, but it is a prohibited food additive in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.