Erythrosine(E127)
Level 4 — Significant concernsIn Winter's Dictionary
Erythrosine is a colorant — Sodium/potassium salt of tetraiodofluorescein; coal-tar derivative
Also: FD and C Red No. 3
What it does
Sodium/potassium salt of tetraiodofluorescein; coal-tar derivative
Where you'll see it
Toothpaste, canned fruit cocktail cherries, ice cream, hot dogs, barbecue potato chips, cereals, puddings, fruit salad, sherbets, gelatin desserts, candy pie mix, maraschino cherries
What the research says
May interfere with transmission of nerve impulses in the brain. Contains iodine, affects thyroid glands of laboratory animals. Found to cause cancer; may contribute to breast cancer—causes rapid cell growth like estrogen exposure.
Regulatory status
- US FDA: ASP
- EU: approved
- Notes: Lake use terminated 1990; cosmetic uses terminated 1990; still permitted for food and ingested drugs
Sources
- A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): Red No. 3 causes breast cancer in the laboratory. When the dye was added to a human cell culture, genetic damage and rapid cell growth occurred