Citrus Red No. 2
Level 4 — Significant concernsIn Winter's Dictionary
Citrus Red No. 2 is a colorant — Coloring for orange skins only (Florida oranges)
Also: Monoazo
What it does
Coloring for orange skins only (Florida oranges)
Where you'll see it
Florida orange skins (not California)
What the research says
2-naphthol constituent can cause eye lens clouding, kidney damage, vomiting, circulatory collapse if ingested in quantity. May cause allergic reactions on skin and deaths reported after application. May cause cancer.
Regulatory status
- US FDA: ASP
- Notes: Limited to 2 ppm based on whole fruit weight
Sources
- A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): Citrus Red No. 2 toxicity is far from determined... May cause allergic reactions to the skin can cause peeling and deaths have been reported