Lack of carcinogenicity of tartrazine (FD & C Yellow No. 5) in the F344 rat

Abstract

The carcinogenicity of tartrazine (C. I. Food Yellow No. 4, FD & C Yellow No. 5), a food, drug and cosmetics colouring, was examined in F344 rats. Tartrazine was dissolved in distilled water at levels of 0, 1 or 2%, and groups of about 50 male and 50 female rats were given one of these solutions ad lib. as their drinking-water for up to 2 yr. No toxic lesions specifically caused by tartrazine were detected in any treated group of either sex. Many tumours developed in all groups including the control group, and the organ distribution of these tumours and their histological characteristics were similar to those of the spontaneous tumours that are known to occur in this strain of rats. Except for mesothelioma in males and endometrial stromal polyp in females, there were no significant increases in the incidences of any tumours over those in the corresponding control group. In males, mesotheliomas were found only in the group given 1% tartrazine and the incidence of this lesion was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test) in comparison with the other two groups ( P < 0.02). The incidence of endometrial stromal polyp was also significantly higher among females given the 1% dose than in the controls ( P < 0.05). However, no positive trend was noted in the occurrence of these two tumours using an age-adjusted statistical analysis. Mesothelioma and endometrial stromal polyp are frequently observed spontaneous tumours in this strain of rats, and their incidences in our historical controls are 4.1 and 21.9%, respectively. However in the present study mesothelioma occurred in none of the male control rats and the incidence of endometrial stromal polyp was only 10.6% in the female control group. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the control and treated groups in hyperplastic or pre-neoplastic changes in the mesothelium or endometrium. From these findings, we concluded that the significant increases in the incidences of mesothelioma and endometrial stromal polyp that occurred in the groups given 1% tartrazine were not attributable to tartrazine administration. Thus, it is concluded that tartrazine was not carcinogenic in F344 rats when administered continuously at doses of up to 2% in the drinking-water for up to 2 yr.