A one year feeding study with carmoisine in rats.

Rat fed carmoisine (C.I. (1956) No. 14720) at 0.35, 0.8 or 2.0% in the diet for 52 weeks showed no adverse effects of the dye when compared to control animals. Mortality, weight gain, hematological values and relative organ weights were the same in control and treated animals. There was no increase in tumor incidence due to carmoisine treatment. Male rats fed 2.0% carmoisine showed an increased incidence of several mild subclinical conditions (minimal bronchitis and tracheal inflammation). Because of this occurrence, the maximum no-effect level after 1 year exposure appears to be 0.8%, equivalent to a daily intake of approx. 400 mg/kg.