2-Dodecylcyclobutanone does not induce mutations in the Escherichia coli tryptophan reverse mutation assay

Like thermal processing, ionizing radiation can break molecular bonds and induce the formation of chemicals not found in the unprocessed product. Irradiation of foods containing palmitic acid can lead to the formation of 2-dodecylcyclobutanone (2-DCB). In this study, the Escherichia coli tryptophan reverse mutation assay was used to evaluate the capacity of 2-DCB to induce mutations. E. coli tester strains WP2 (pkM101) and WP2 uvrA (pKM101), with and without exogenous metabolic activation, were exposed to 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg/well 2-DCB using the Miniscreen version of the assay. 2-DCB did not induce mutations in the E. coli tryptophan reverse mutation assay. These results are in agreement with negative results obtained in short-term and long-term genetic toxicology tests of irradiated food products.