Erythrosine


Erythrosine, also known as Red No. 3, is an organoiodine compound, specifically a derivative of fluorone. It is a pink dye which is primarily used for food coloring. It is the disodium salt of 2,4,5,7-tetraiodofluorescein. Its maximum absorbance is at 530 nm in an aqueous solution, and it is subject to photodegradation.

Uses

It is used as a:
Erythrosine is commonly used in sweets such as some candies and popsicles, and even more widely used in cake-decorating gels. It is also used to color pistachio shells. As a food additive, it has the E number E127.

Health effects

As a result of efforts begun in the 1970s, in 1990 the U.S. FDA had instituted a partial ban on erythrosine, citing research that high doses have been found to cause cancer in rats. A 1990 study concluded that "chronic erythrosine ingestion may promote thyroid tumor formation in rats via chronic stimulation of the thyroid by TSH." with 4% of total daily dietary intake consisting of erythrosine B. A series of toxicology tests combined with a review of other reported studies concluded that erythrosine is non-genotoxic and any increase in tumors is caused by a non-genotoxic mechanism.
In June 2008, the Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the FDA for a complete ban on erythrosine in the United States, but the FDA has not taken any further action.

Regulation and prevalence

While erythrosine is commonly used in many countries of the world, it is less commonly used in the United States because Allura Red AC is generally used instead. However, Allura Red AC is banned in many European countries because it is an azo dye. Erythrosine can be used in colored food and ingested drugs in the USA without any restriction, however, its use is banned in cosmetics and external drugs. The lake variant is also banned from use in the United States.

Synonyms

Erythrosine B; Erythrosin B; Acid Red 51; C.I. 45430; FD & C Red No.3; E127;
2',4',5',7'-Tetraiodo-3',6'-dihydroxy-spiro-3-one disodium salt; Tetraiodofluorescein Sodium Salt; Calcoid Erythrosine N; 2,4,5,7-Tetraiodo-3,6-dihydroxyxanthene-9-spiro-1'-3H-isobenzofuran-3'-one disodium salt; 2',4',5',7'-Tetraiodofluorescein, disodium salt; C.I.Food Red 14; Aizen Erythrosine; Tetraiodifluorescein, disodium salt; Spiroxanthen]-3-one, 3',6'-dihydroxy-2',4',5',7'-tetraiodo-, disodium salt.

Classification

It is listed under the following number systems: