| Additive Summary | Carmoisine (E122) or Azorubine (E122) |
|---|---|
| Essence | Carmoisine or E122, or Azorubine is a synthetic azo dye (artificial color) used to create a solid red color cheaply. |
| Names | Carmoisine, E122, Azorubine, Food Red 3, CI 14720, FD&C Red No. 10, CI Acid Red 14, Acid Red 14, CAS 3567-69-9, Food Red 3, Acid Rubine, Azo Rubine, Karmesin, and others. |
| Sourcing | It’s fully synthetically made. It’s typically prepared from 4-aminonaphthalene-1-sulphonic acid. |
| Manufacturing | To create Carmoisine/Azorubine, the 4-aminonaphthalene-1-sulphonic acid is diazotized (converted to diazo compound) with the assistance of sodium nitrite and hydrochloric acid. Then, the outcome of that is paired up with 4-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulphonic acid. |
| Application | Coloring (red, very water-soluble). |
| Acceptable Daily Intake | While it is believed to be okay in amounts up to 4 milligrams on every kilogram of body weight, it’s a number we shouldn’t count on. Ideally, we shouldn’t ever consume it. It’s allowed in food in amounts as high as 500 milligrams per kilogram of food. |
| Side Effects | Carmoisine can bring all kinds of damage. As a synthetic color, it can lead to various cancers, asthma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, irritability and hyperactivity (ADHD) in children, brain damage (neurotoxin), and many other dangerous health effects. It can also cause rashes, skin swelling, skin irritation, breathing difficulties, and more. |
| Benefits | None. |
| Studies | 155+ studies on Pubmed (135+ on Azorubine). Less than 10 studies on safety (less than 5 on Azorubine). |
| Allergens | None. |
| Diet Restrictions | None. |
| Assessment (As An Additive) |
Seriously harmful. | Category 5 Additive. |
| Products | Quite uncommon in supplements. Can’t be found naturally in foods. Used in processed foods like cheese, dried fruit, alcoholic and various other beverages, marzipan, candy, jellies, chewing gum, toppings, sauces, nougats, soups, broths, yogurts, cheesecake mixes, Swiss roll, blancmange, and others. |
My daughter gets shortness of breath and palpitations with severe anxiety/irritability with this horrible substance. Happened twice until we realised the products she had immediately prior to the episodes both contained E122. There is a reason it banned in other countries. It’s in so many things here!