Date of Defense

4-15-2025

Date of Graduation

4-2025

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Anthony DeFulio

Second Advisor

Cristal Cardoso Sao Mateus

Third Advisor

Claire Dine

Abstract

Artificial food dye is added to foods to enhance their color and appearance for consumers. This systematic review aims to review the literature on Red Dye No. 40 and its effects on non-human animals. Studies were included if (a) exposure to Red Dye No. 40 was the independent variable, (b) nonhuman animals were the subjects, and (c) at least one behavioral, neurological, or physiological dependent variable was reported. An article search was conducted with Scopus Elsevier. An abstract review was conducted to determine whether the articles met all inclusion criteria. The author conducted a multi-stage application of inclusion criteria to search results. The author then conducted an iterated bi-directional citation search and applied inclusion criteria to those results as well. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Key findings are that (a) the effects of Red Dye No. 40 can be dose-dependent and differ between the sexes of non-human animals; (b) physiological (including neuro-physiological) development was affected by dye exposure, especially in studies involving reproduction, fetuses, and offspring; and (c) Red Dye No. 40 may affect hyperactivity behavior, anxiety, and risk-taking. Alterations to brain structure and neurons could be connected to the altered behavior observed in the studies. High doses were used in the reviewed studies that reported physiological and behavioral changes. Some studies have implied that low doses have few to no toxic effects or create physiological or behavioral changes. Whether and to what extent these findings can be extended to humans is not clear. While animal models can be informative, they do not always predict outcomes in human physiology or behavior. Further research involving both animal and human participants is necessary to clarify the implications of exposure to Red Dye No. 40. Additionally, searching databases beyond Scopus, such as PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, may uncover more relevant literature and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the dye's effects. This review provides a foundation for future studies that aim to evaluate the safety and behavioral implications of Red Dye No. 40 in both animal and human populations.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

Additional Files
Table 1 Summary of reviewed manuscripts.pdf (72 kB)
Summary of Reviewed Manuscripts
Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS