TY - JOUR T1 - Tartrazine: a potentially hazardous dye in Canadian drugs JF - Canadian Medical Association Journal JO - CMAJ SP - 910 LP - 914 VL - 126 IS - 8 AU - M. E. MacCara Y1 - 1982/04/15 UR - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/126/8/910.abstract N2 - The literature was reviewed to determine the incidence of idiosyncratic reactions to tartrazine. From 4% to 14% of individuals with asthma or allergies or both and from 7% to 20% of persons who are sensitive to acetylsalicylic acid may react to this dye. The mechanism of such reactions is unknown. Pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors were surveyed and a list was prepared of approximately 450 Canadian pharmaceuticals that contain tartrazine. The 53 pharmaceutical and manufacturers and distributors whose drug products do not contain this dye were also listed. It is recommended that information concerning the tartrazine content of drugs be included on package labels. ER -