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Common food additive could cause precancerous lesions in rats

France has ordered an inquiry after it was discovered that a common food additive may cause precancerous lesions in rats.

By Amy Wallace
Researchers in France have found that the food additive E171, commonly used as a whitening agent in toothpaste and chewing gum, may cause precancerous lesions in laboratory rats. Photo by Hans/PixaBay
Researchers in France have found that the food additive E171, commonly used as a whitening agent in toothpaste and chewing gum, may cause precancerous lesions in laboratory rats. Photo by Hans/PixaBay

Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Researchers in France have found that the common food additive E171 can cause precancerous lesions in laboratory rats.

E171 is a whitening agent commonly found in toothpaste and chewing gum. The additive is widely used in the United States and Europe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1966 approved E171 at levels up to 1 percent of a food product's weight, but there are no daily intake regulations in Europe, so the findings have France calling for an inquiry into its safety.

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Researchers from INRA Agricultural Research Institute in France found that 40 percent of lab rats exposed to E171 in their drinking water developed preneoplastic lesions or precancerous growths.

The findings also showed that E171 inhibited the immune system in rats and increased the growth of lesions induced for the experiment.

"These results demonstrate a role in initiating and promoting the early stages of colorectal cancer formation," a statement from the INRA said.

Researchers said that they were unable to draw conclusions regarding the effects on later stages of cancer or if there was any danger to humans.

France's ministers of health, agriculture and economy ordered Anses, the food, health and safety agency, to examine whether the additive is a risk to human health.

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The study was published in Scientific Reports.

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