A study of the embryotoxicity of the food colour Ponceau 4 R in rats.

An embryotoxicity study on Ponceau 4 R was carried out in SPF Wistar rats. The substance was given by gavage from day 1 to 20 of the gestation period in doses of 0, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg bw per day, dissolved in distilled water. The foetuses were removed on day 21. No effect due to the treatment with the dye was observed with regard to the number of corpora luteae (CL), of implantations, of foetuses dead or alive with regard to gross malformations, to skeletal and internal malformations or to the weight of the foetuses.