Mutagenic investigation of flavourings: dimethyl succinate, ethyl pyruvate and aconitic acid are negative in the Salmonella/mammalian-microsome test.

Three flavourings: dimethyl succinate, ethyl pyruvate and aconitic acid, commonly used in candy, beverages, and baked goods, were tested in the Salmonella/mammalian-microsome test. Tester strains were TA 1535, TA 100, TA 1537 and TA 98 and doses were 32, 160, 800, 4000 and 20 000 micrograms per plate. All tests were performed with and without the S9 fraction from Aroclor induced rat liver. None of the flavourings showed mutagenic potential. These results support the classification made by the Council of Europe, List I (1981).