Carcinogenicity of a food additive, AF-2, in hamsters and mice.

The carcinogenicity of a food additive, 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl) acrylamide (trade name, AF-2), was studied. A diet containing AF-2 at a rate of 0.25% was administered to male golden hamsters and male ddY mice. The hamsters developed squamous cell carcinomas in the forestomach after the 49th day from the start of administration. In mice fed a AF-2 diet for 308 days, squamous cell carcinoma was observed in the forestomach after the 381th day from the start of the experiment; in some cases the carcinoma metastasized to the lung and liver.