Tartazine alert: Is your favorite snack hiding health risks?
Tartazine, also known as E102, is a popular orange dye used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. However, people with allergies and children should be cautious about its consumption. How does it affect health, and in which products is it found?
Tartazine, labeled as E102, is an artificial dye with an orange color (depending on the concentration, it colors yellow or orange), widely used in various industries. It is mainly used to produce food, medications, and cosmetics. However, its impact on health raises significant controversies.
Tartazine may cause allergic reactions, such as skin redness or shortness of breath, especially in people allergic to aspirin and those with asthma.
Tartazine in food products
Since 2010, manufacturers have been required to inform about the presence of tartrazine in food, as it may affect activity and attention in children and cause ADHD-like symptoms. Meanwhile, this dye is present in many products, such as cornflakes, beverages, pasta, mustard, and chips.
The World Health Organization's guidelines set the daily intake limit for a healthy adult at 4.5 mg per pound of body weight.
Use in pharmacy and cosmetics
In pharmacy, tartazine colors syrups, capsules, and other medications, making them easier to identify. In cosmetics, especially those with a green hue, it is used to produce soaps, shampoos, and toothpaste. Furthermore, tartazine is a pigment used to produce colored cosmetics, such as eyeshadows, foundations, and lipsticks.
Although it is allowed in the EU, Canada, and the USA, some countries, like the United Arab Emirates, have banned its use in food.
Consumer awareness and regulations
In recent years, there has been an increase in consumer awareness about the potential risks associated with food additives.
Tartazine, part of the so-called "Southampton Six," has been identified as one of the dyes that may cause negative health reactions. Studies have shown that it may worsen the health of people with asthma and has carcinogenic effects, which has led some countries to impose restrictions on its use.
Many food products, such as soda and sweets, contain artificial dyes. Consumers, especially parents of young children, are increasingly paying attention to their presence in food products. Educational campaigns and legal changes aim to reduce the consumption of substances like E102, which, despite being legal, raises many controversies.
We are often tempted by attractive packaging and colorful products when entering stores or drugstores. Unfortunately, many of them owe their color to dyes, not only natural ones but also artificial ones. Dyes used in the food industry appear on labels as the letter "E" with an appropriate number – from 100 to 199.
