Dietary exposure to food azo-colours in a sample of pre-school children from Southern Brazil

Abstract

The dietary exposure of six food azo-colours was assessed in a sample of pre-schoolers from Guaratuba-Paraná, Brazil. Consumption data of 323 children aged 2 to 5 years was collected through 3-day food records. Dietary exposure, is expressed by milligrams of food colour by kilogram of body weight per day, as compared to the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). Three exposure scenarios were developed to account for uncertainties around consumption estimates. Intakes of Amaranth (INS 123) described in means, 50th and 95th percentiles exceeded ADI levels in the two most conservative scenarios, with the highest percentiles exceeding about four times the ADI. High intakes of Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110) were also observed, of up to 85% of the ADI in the worst-case scenario. Findings suggest high exposure levels to azo-dyes in the survey population, with children likely exceeding the ADI for Amaranth (INS 123) and concerns for Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110). Major food contributors were beverages (juice powders and soft drinks), dairy and sweets. Further studies on dietary exposure assessment are needed at the national level. The authors highlight the need of controlling the use of such additives through national policies that are aligned with the consumption patterns observed in the country.

Keywords:

• Additives
• azo-dyes
• synthetic food colours
• exposure assessment
• child nutrition

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the participants of this study, as well as the employees of childcare centres.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Brazilian national agencies: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq; Grant No. 552448/2011-7). Financing agencies did not participate in any stage of the development of this article.