INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY

    WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION



    TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOME
    FOOD COLOURS, ENZYMES, FLAVOUR
    ENHANCERS, THICKENING AGENTS, AND
    CERTAIN FOOD ADDITIVES



    WHO FOOD ADDITIVES SERIES 6







    The evaluations contained in this publication were prepared by the
    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives which met in Rome,
    4-13 June 19741


    World Health Organization     Geneva     1975






              

    1  Eighteenth Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on
    Food Additives, Wld Hlth Org. techn. Rep. Ser., 1974, No. 557.
    FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, 1974, No. 54.

    COCHINEAL AND CARMINIC ACID

    BIOLOGICAL DATA

    BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS

         No information available.

    TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES

    Acute toxicity

         No information available.

    Short-term studies

    Mouse

         Mice (number not stated) were given intraperitoneal injections of
    a 1 to 2% aqueous solution of the lithium salt of carminic acid for a
    period of 60 days. The only abnormality observed was proliferation of
    spleen tissue (Harada, 1931).

    Rat

         Groups of 40 rats, equally divided by sex, received ammoniacal
    cochineal carmine in 0.4% aqueous gum tragacanth by intubation at
    dosage levels of 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg five days per week for 13
    weeks. Body weight was recorded bi-weekly. Blood counts were made
    three times. Gross and microscopic findings were not remarkable aside
    from a dose-related accumulation of colour in the tissues of the rats
    receiving the two higher dosage levels. No haematological effects were
    noted. At the two highest levels some decreased growth was apparent
    (Battelle, 1962).

         Groups of 50 weanling rats equally divided by sex were fed
    carmine in the diet at levels of 0, 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day for 90
    days. Blood counts, blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen and urinalyses
    were performed three times. No effects due to the carmine were
    reported in terms of growth, haematology and other clinical findings.
    Gross and microscopic pathology was not remarkable (FDRL, 1962).

    Rabbit

         Five rabbits were given intravenous injections every five to
    seven days, of 3 to 10 ml of a 2 to 4% aqueous solution of the lithium
    salt of carminic acid. The treatment was continued for periods
    varying from 130 to 529 days. No tumours were observed, but great
    proliferation of the tissue of the spleen was noted (Harada, 1931).

    Long-term studies

         None available.

    Comments:

         There is no information available on metabolism or on the effects
    of long-term feeding. Reproduction and embryotoxicity including
    teratology studies have not been done.

    EVALUATION

         Not possible on the data available.

    REFERENCES

    Battelle Memorial Institute (1962) Unpublished report submitted to WHO

    Food and Drug Research Laboratories (1962) Unpublished report
         submitted to WHO

    Harada, M. (1931) cited by Hartwell, J. L: Survey of compounds which
         have been tested for carcinogenic activity. Second edition,
         1951, p. 118

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations