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Exposure estimate for FD&C colour additives for the US population.
Diana L Doell1, Daniel E Folmer1, Hyoung S Lee1
1a Office of Food Additive Safety , Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) , College Park , MD , USA.
Summary
Dietary exposure to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved color additives was estimated. FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, and FD&C Yellow No. 6 showed the highest exposures, primarily from cereals and drinks.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Toxicology
- Public Health Nutrition
Background:
- The U.S. permits seven Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) color additives for general food use.
- Understanding dietary exposure is crucial for assessing potential health risks associated with these additives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the dietary exposure to the seven FD&C color additives for the U.S. population.
- To identify the primary food sources contributing to the exposure of these color additives.
Main Methods:
- Analytical levels of FD&C color additives in approximately 600 foods were determined.
- Dietary exposure was calculated using 2-day (NHANES) and 10–14-day (NPD NET-NID) food consumption data.
- Exposure was estimated for mean and 90th percentile, considering low, average, and high exposure scenarios.
Main Results:
- FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, and FD&C Yellow No. 6 were identified as having the highest cumulative dietary exposures across all populations and scenarios.
- Breakfast cereals, juice drinks, soft drinks, and frozen dairy desserts were the major food categories contributing to exposure.
- These findings were consistent for the general U.S. population, children (2-5 years), and teenage boys (13-18 years).
Conclusions:
- Specific FD&C color additives, namely Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6, represent the highest dietary exposures.
- Consumption of processed foods like cereals and beverages significantly contributes to the intake of these color additives.
- Further research may inform regulatory assessments and public health guidance regarding artificial food colorings.
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