Subacute toxicity studies of selected organic colorants

The results of subacute toxicity studies on eight selected colorants of low acute oral toxicity (LD50 greater than 2000 mg/kg) are reported. These eight colorants, selected from widely differing chemical structural types, were administered as 22 daily doses over a period of 30 days (no weekend dosing) at 1000 mg/kg body weight/day by gavage to female and male rats. Animals treated with the vehicle served only as controls. In most cases the treatment period was followed by a 15-day recovery period. Even at this high dose level all products were tolerated without irreversible signs of toxicity. The survey of data available indicated that the substances investigated exhibited a very low cumulative toxicity.