Safety of Allura Red AC in feed for cats and dogs

colourant, Allura Red AC, cats, dogs, safety, genotoxicity
First published in the EFSA Journal
10 November 2015
Adopted
20 October 2015
Type
Scientific Opinion

Abstract

No evidence of genotoxicity was found in an in vivo micronucleus test with Allura Red AC; however, no evidence of target cell exposure was provided. In an in vivo comet assay, Allura Red AC was clearly negative for the induction of DNA damage in all the analysed tissues (stomach, colon, and liver). Consequently, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concludes that Allura Red AC is not genotoxic. Since no data on the safety of Allura Red AC for cats and dogs were provided, the highest safe dietary concentration of Allura Red AC was derived from the no observed adverse effect level obtained in toxicity studies with rats, applying an uncertainty factor of 100. The calculated values were 370 mg/kg complete feed for dogs and 308 mg/kg complete feed for cats.

Panel members at the time of adoption

Gabriele Aquilina, Vasileios Bampidis, Maria de Lourdes Bastos, Georges Bories, Andrew Chesson, Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Gerhard Flachowsky, Jürgen Gropp, Boris Kolar, Maryline Kouba, Secundino López Puente, Marta López-Alonso, Alberto Mantovani, Baltasar Mayo, Fernando Ramos, Guido Rychen, Maria Saarela, Roberto Edoardo Villa, Robert John Wallace and Pieter Wester.
Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed
Contact
feedap@efsa.europa.eu
doi
10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4270
EFSA Journal 2015;13(11):4270
Question Number
On request from
European Commission