BIOL 140 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Allura Red Ac, Genotoxicity, Comet Assay
Document Summary
Extensive consumption of red food dyes leads to genotoxicity and. The controversy of whether or not artificial food dyes (afd) are harmful to dna and if it affects hyperactivity has been an ongoing debate for decades. Afd is a common ingredient in much of the food and beverages that we consume everyday. The synthesis of the dyes can help us understand where these effects come from. As the dyes are derived from petroleum, the effects petroleum has on people who work closely with it should correspond with, to some extent, the effects of consuming afd. Furthermore, afd have been identified to have genotoxic characteristics as shown through studies where animals were fed a diet containing red food dyes and were later found to have damaged dna. Though some believe that hyperactivity is merely psychological, afd are shown to contribute to hyperactivity in children. Afd intake is controlled, implications of health effects are minimal.
