Red 2G

Product Description

Name: Red 2G
Synonyms : Acid Red 1Food Red 10Amidonaphthol red GazogeranineazophloxineazofloxinC.I. 18050
CAS Registry Number: 3734-67-6
 
Red 2G is a synthetic red azo dye. It is soluble in water and slightly soluble in ethanol. It usually comes as a disodium salt of 8-acetamido-1-hydroxy-2-phenylazonaphthalene-3,6 disulphonate.
In the European Union, Red 2G is used as a food dye (E number E128). However, it is only permitted for use in breakfast sausages with a minimum cereal content of 6% and burger meat with a minimum vegetable and/or cereal content of 4%. [1]
Following safety concerns raised by EFSA in its opinion of 5 July 2007 [2], the European Commission has prepared a draft Regulation to suspend use of E128 as a food colouring. This proposed course of action was unanimously approved by European Union Member States at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health (Section Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain) on 20 July 2007 [3].
Red 2G is banned in Australia, Austria, Canada, Japan, Norway[4], Sweden, Malaysia[5] and the United States.[citation needed] It was banned in Ireland, Israel and Greece in July 2007. [6]
It is relatively insensitive to the bleaching effect of sulfur dioxide (E220) and sodium metabisulfite (E223). In the intestines, Red 2G can be converted to the toxic compound aniline [8], so there are concerns Red 2G may ultimately interfere with blood haemoglobin, as well as cause cancer.