Screening of the food additive propionic acid for genotoxic properties.

Genotoxic properties of the food additive propionic acid were analysed using the Escherichia coli DNA repair assay, the SOS chromotest, the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity test, the sister chromatid exchange test in vitro and the micronucleus test in vivo. All tests except the DNA repair assay with E. coli yielded negative results. These data support other evidence that propionic acid is not mutagenic and that genotoxic events are unlikely to be the cause of forestomach lesions in rats fed propionic acid in the diet (Griem, Bundesgesundheitsblatt 1985, 28, 322).