Super food or super toxic? Turmeric and spirulina as culprits for the toxic effects of food dyes in Drosophila

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104600
• Publication Date: 2023-12-23T08:35:58Z
• Authors: Rebecca von Hellfeld; Craig Christie; Davina Derous; Juliano Morimoto
• Keywords: Spirulina (dietary supplement); Functional food; Food additive

Prolonged exposure to food dyes, even for those considered safe consumption, are known have toxic effects. However, we lack a proper understanding of the underlying compounds that responsible observed toxicity. Here, tested effects three common commercially available natural dyes (red, green, blue), and their main ingredients (turmeric spirulina), on Drosophila melanogaster oviposition, larval development, foraging behaviour. Larval development egg-to-adult survival was significantly impacted by blue green dyes. These were recapitulated when flies fed with increasing concentrations turmeric spirulina, suggesting is component dye. Red dye, which contains neither or had little impact fly health Green decreased egg laying, an effect similar in and, lesser extent, spirulina. When given choice, larvae preferred feed as follows: control > red diet patches, pattern inversely correlating previously Our results show that, despite being often super food, it can organisms.