Colorful, Cute, Attractive and Carcinogenic: The Dangers of Dyes

Abstract

Azo dyes and their derivatives have been linked to cases of bladder, prostate, esophagus, rectum, stomach and ovary cancer. These dyes are quite common on food, however, several countries have revised its use and reassessed what are the acceptable concentrations of these pigments. Twilight Yellow and Tartrazine are two azo dyes allowed on food in many countries around the world, they are used for the preparation of gelatins, cake, juices, ready soft drinks, candies, chewing gum, snacks, crackers and etc. Among children and adolescents, the consumption of these foods is common, which can lead to high dye levels in the body. This study examined the concentration of Twilight Yellow and Tartrazine dyes in food consumed by children in Brazilian schools. The results indicated that high consumption of sweets tends to exceed the acceptable daily intake of dyes. Moreover, many products have levels above the allowed by the Brazilian legislation, which increases the risk of cancer.