Corantes artificiais: riscos à saúde e necessidade de revisão da regulamentação brasileira

Abstract

The present study evaluated the need for revision of Brazilian legislation for the use of artificial colors in food. A search was carried out on health risks and international and national regulations, through Science Direct, PubMed, Scielo, Springer, Digital Scolarship and Wiley Online Library databases, using health descriptors. Publications indicate the occurrence of hypersensitivity, carcinogenicity and hyperactivity in rodents associated with the use of innumerable artificial dyes from the azo and triphenylmethane groups. They also demonstrate consumers' current preference for healthier foods with fewer dyes. However, Brazilian legislation has allowed the increase of the number of permitted substances, adopting a posture contrary to the one of countries such as USA and EU. Another worrying fact, described in the literature, is the fact that the concentration of dyes in foods directed to the infant group exceeds the limits recommended by the legislation. We concluded that Brazilian regulation on artificial dyes needs to be revised, guaranteeing the population's safety regarding the consumption of industrialized foods.