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| Names | |
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Other names
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| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChemSpider |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.020.999 |
| E number | E128(colours) |
| UNII | |
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| Properties | |
| C18H13N3O8S2 | |
| Molar mass | 463.44 g·mol−1 |
| 18 g/100 mL (20 °C) | |
| Solubility | 1 g/ 100 mL glycerol Negligible in ethanol |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Red 2G is a synthetic redazo dye. It is soluble in water and slightly soluble inglycerol. It usually comes as a disodium salt of 8-acetamido-1-hydroxy-2-phenylazonaphthalene-3,6 disulfonate.
Red 2G is produced byazo coupling ofAcetyl-H acid and diazonium derivative ofAniline under basic conditions:[1]
In the European Union, Red 2G was used as afood dye (E number E128). However, it was 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%.[2]
Following safety concerns raised by theEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in its opinion of 5 July 2007,[3] 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.[4] and Commission Regulation (EC) No 884/2007[5] on emergency measures suspending the use of E 128 Red 2G as food colour was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 27 July 2007.
Red 2G is also banned inAustralia,Canada,Japan,Norway,[6] andMalaysia.[7] It was banned inIsrael in July 2007[citation needed].
It is relatively insensitive to thebleaching effect ofsulfur dioxide (E220) andsodium metabisulfite (E223). In the intestines, Red 2G can be converted to the toxic compoundaniline,[8] so there are concerns Red 2G may ultimately interfere with bloodhaemoglobin, as well as cause cancer.
It is also used as a dye for coatings, inks, paper, crepe paper, and fine tissue.
Red 2G can be also used forstaining inhistology, though rarely, e.g. as a component ofMasson's trichrome.
In July 2007, the EFSA established that E128 is potentiallycarcinogenic because it formsaniline in the body when consumed.[9] The pressure group,The Food Commission, said there had been concerns about Red 2G going back decades and it was suspected of being acarcinogen in the 1980s.[10]
