Allura Red AC is a xenobiotic. Is it also a carcinogen?

Abstract

Merriam-Webster and Oxford define a xenobiotic as any substance foreign to living systems. Allura Red AC (a.k.a., E129; FD&C Red No. 40), a synthetic food dye extensively used in manufacturing ultra-processed foods and therefore highly prevalent in our food supply, falls under this category. The surge in synthetic food dye consumption during the 70s and 80s was followed by an epidemic of metabolic diseases and the emergence of early-onset colorectal cancer in the 1990s. This temporal association raises significant concerns, particularly given the widespread inclusion of synthetic food dyes in ultra-processed products, notably those marketed toward children. Given its interactions with key contributors to colorectal carcinogenesis such as inflammatory mediators, the microbiome, and DNA damage, there is growing interest in understanding Allura Red AC's potential impact on colon health as a putative carcinogen. This review discusses the history of Allura Red AC, current research on its effects on the colon and rectum, potential mechanisms underlying its impact on colon health, and provides future considerations. Indeed, although no governing agencies classify Allura Red AC as a carcinogen, its interaction with key guardians of carcinogenesis makes it suspect and worthy of further molecular investigation. The goal of this review is to inspire research into the impact of synthetic food dyes on colon health.

Keywords: Allura Red AC; DNA damage; colorectal cancer; inflammation; microbiome.

Graphical Abstract

Figure 1

Allura Red AC is a xenobiotic and is metabolized in the gut microbiome, where azoreductases cleave the azo bonds of the dye into cresidine-4-sulfonic acid (CSA) and 1-amino-2-naphthol-6-sulfonic acid (ANSA). Evidence suggests these metabolites are DNA-reactive and activate the inflammatory machinery.