Food & Drink / Compounds / MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline)

MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline) in food: ingestion safety

Context-dependent

Safety profile for MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline) relevant to people.

What is meiqx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline)?

The IUPAC name is 3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinolin-2-amine.

Also known as: 3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinolin-2-amine, MeIQ, Me-IQ, 3,4-dimethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinolin-2-amine.

IUPAC name
3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinolin-2-amine
CAS number
77094-11-2
Molecular formula
C12H12N4
Molecular weight
212.25 g/mol
SMILES
CC1=CC2=C(C=CC=N2)C3=C1N(C(=N3)N)C
PubChem CID
62274

Risk for people

Context-dependent

Regulatory consensus

6 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC1993Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans)IARC Monograph 56 (1993). Sufficient evidence in experimental animals (liver, colon, Zymbal gland tumors in rats); limited evidence in humans. Second most abundant heterocyclic amine (HCA) in cooked muscle meats after PhIP. Forms from creatinine + amino acids at high temperatures (Maillard reaction). Requires metabolic activation via CYP1A2 and NAT2 to form reactive N-acetoxy ester that binds deoxyguanosine.
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 6 positive / 0 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 6 positive / 0 negative reports)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter meiqx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
  • Food — processed food, beverages, candy, baked goods

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline):

  • Natural preservatives; Clean-label ingredients; Minimally processed food
    Trade-offs: Consumer label appeal ('clean label'); variable efficacy depending on food matrix and target pathogen; may alter flavor/color; regulatory status varies by jurisdiction; often more expensive per unit of preservation effect.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

What products contain meiqx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline)?

MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); processed food (Food).

Why do regulators disagree about meiqx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline)?

MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline) has been classified by 6 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / CalEPA, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline) in the food app

Look up products containing meiqx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in food View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 56: MeIQx and Other Heterocyclic Amines (1993) — regulatory
  2. NCI: Heterocyclic Amines and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Cooked Meats — Consumer Guidance (2022) — report
  3. WHO Safety Evaluation of Certain Food Additives and Contaminants: Heterocyclic Amines (1994) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →