Long-term toxicity of Sunset Yellow FCF in mice

Groups of 30 male and 30 female mice were given diets containing 0·2, 0·4, 0·8 or 1·6% Sunset Yellow FCF for 80 wk. A group of 60 male and 60 female mice served as controls. The feeding of Sunset Yellow FCF did not adversely affect the death rate within the groups, the rate of body-weight gain, the organ weights or the haematological findings. The incidence and severity of the histopathological findings were similar in treated and control mice and there was no evidence of an increased incidence of tumours in the mice given Sunset Yellow FCF. It is concluded that in mice Sunset Yellow FCF fed at levels of up to 1·6% in the diet is not carcinogenic and does not exert any long-term toxic effects.