Pulmonary reactions to tartrazine

Abstract

In this report we have reviewed the medical literature and outlined the history of, support for and prior conclusions about adverse pulmonary reactions to tartrazine. Data obtained during oral tartrazine challenges, conducted at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, revealed the following: in 194 aspirin (ASA)‐sensitive asthmatic patients, asthmatic attacks, occurring after ingestion of tartrazine, occurred in only one patient. Since this patient has not been available for rechallenge, using double blind protocol, we cannot definitively conclude that this patient has tartrazine induced asthmatic cross‐reactivity. In the remaining six patients with initial single‐blind positive challenges to tartrazine, repeat double blind challenges were subsequently negative. In 43 asthmatic patients, proven to be insensitive to ASA during oral challenges, none reacted to single blind challenges with tartrazine 50 mg.