Synthetic food dyes: Health risks, history, and policy
Ali Noorafshan, Maedeh Hashemi, Saied Karbalay-Doust and Fatemeh Karimi. 2018. High dose Allura Red, rather than the ADI dose, induces structural and behavioral changes in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats and taurine can protect it. Acta histochemica 120(6), 586-594.
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Artificial Color Red 40
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Artificial Color Red 40
Title info loading.Overall Artificial Color Red 40 is of moderate concern in food.
The overall ingredient concern is determined by using a weight of evidence evaluation of the known safety or hazards. In calculating an overall ingredient score multiple findings of low concern may lead to an overall moderate concern rating, or multiple moderate concerns may lead to a high concern rating. For more details read EWG’s ingredient concern methodology.
Specific concerns for Artificial Color Red 40
Synthetic food dyes are associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in children.
2021. Potential Neurobehavioral Effects of Synthetic Food Dyes in Children. California Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
EFSA finds that there is “limited evidence” that Allura Red in a mixture with other synthetic colors and sodium benzoate has a “small and statistically significant effect on activity and attention in children selected from the general population.”
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). 2009. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Allura Red AC (E 129) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 7(11), 1327.
EFSA concludes that some sensitive individuals may experience allergic reactions at dose levels within the ADI.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). 2009. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Allura Red AC (E 129) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 7(11), 1327.
NTP Toxcast scored 2.5-3.5
National Toxicology Program (NTP): EWG Toxcast Analysis
A peer-reviewed study reports nervous system effects at the acceptable daily dose for humans.Ali Noorafshan, Maedeh Hashemi, Saied Karbalay-Doust and Fatemeh Karimi. 2018. High dose Allura Red, rather than the ADI dose, induces structural and behavioral changes in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats and taurine can protect it. Acta histochemica 120(6), 586-594.
A peer-reviewed study reports that Red 40 affects the function of an enzyme important for the endocrine system.
Kanako Satoh, Rhouichi Nonaka, Fusako Ishikawa, Akio Ogata and Fumiko Nagai. 2008. In vitro screening assay for detecting aromatase activity using rat ovarian microsomes and estrone ELISA. Biological and pharmaceutical bulletin 31(3), 357-62.
Review article concluded that Red 40 caused hypersensitivity reactions.
Peer Reviewed Literature: Kobylewski, S. and Jacobson, M.F. 2012. Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health 18(3), 220-46.
Review article concluded that Red 40 caused hypersensitivity reactions.
Peer Reviewed Literature: Kobylewski, S. and Jacobson, M.F. 2012. Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health 18(3), 220-46.
Synthetic food dyes: Health risks, history, and policy
Synthetic food dyes, like Red 40 and Yellow 5, are commonly used in a wide variety of foods and beverages sold in the U.S., but they can cause health problems. CSPI has been calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect consumers from synthetic dyes for years, but the FDA has taken no action. See our resources below to learn more about synthetic dyes, how to avoid them, and how to help us prevent the harm caused by dyes in our food system.
Chemical Cuisine: CSPI’s Food Additive Safety Ratings Sign our petition: Remove Harmful Additives from U.S. Food
The latest on food dyes
California continues leading nation on food additive safety, bans harmful food dyes in schools
September 30, 2024
Healthy cereals for kids with no food dyes
Illinois moves to ban Red 3 and other harmful food additives
Synthetic food dyes: A rainbow of risks
California bill would ban synthetic dyes and titanium dioxide from school foods
Related Pages
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Synthetic dyes and children’s neurobehavior
The seven most widely used synthetic food dyes—Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6—can cause or exacerbate neurobehavioral problems in some children, according to a comprehensive report published in 2021 by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), which is part of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
The report found that consumption of synthetic food dyes can lead to hyperactivity, inattentiveness, restlessness, and other behavioral problems in some children.
OEHHA also pointed out problems with the FDA’s approvals for these unnecessary color additives. OEHHA determined that current levels of safe intake set by the FDA for synthetic food dyes may not sufficiently protect children because the studies FDA used to set these levels were not designed—or even capable—of detecting neurobehavioral impacts.
In Europe, foods with certain synthetic dyes, including Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, and Red No. 40, must carry a warning label stating that the dyes “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” This requirement has been in place since 2010. Many food manufacturers that sell foods in Europe have chosen to reformulate their products to eliminate those dyes and thus avoid the label. But many of those same products still contain synthetic dyes in the U.S. That’s right, Europeans get to enjoy the exact same foods and beverages as Americans, but with safer alternatives to synthetic dyes.
How CSPI is working to protect kids from synthetic dyes
CSPI has asked policymakers at the federal and state levels for bans and warning labels on synthetic dyes. FDA has essentially ignored these requests. We’ve been slightly more successful at the state level, particularly in California, with state legislators repeatedly taking action on dyes. Currently, California is considering two policy changes proposed by CSPI:
- A warning label requirement on dye-containing foods sold in the state (as proposed in our 2022 petition to the California Department of Public Health)
- A ban on synthetic dyes in foods served in California public schools (under consideration in the California state legislature as AB 2316)
- In 2023-2024, at least 10 states introduced legislation to ban Red 3 and other harmful food additives
Learn more about dyes and neurobehavior
- Fact sheet: Synthetic food dyes and California’s OEHHA Use our factsheet to do a deeper dive on the OEHHA assessment on the impacts of dyes on neurobehavior
- Chemical Cuisine, CSPI’s Food Additive Safety Ratings CSPI rates synthetic dyes as “Avoid” on Chemical Cuisine
- Majority of Californians support warning labels for foods with harmful synthetic dyes Most Californians want warning labels on synthetically dyed foods, according to a survey commissioned by CSPI
- California bill would ban synthetic dyes and titanium dioxide from school foods Read our statement about the bill that may soon ban synthetic dyes in California public schools and why CSPI supports it
Warning labels for synthetic food dyes
CSPI petitioned the California Department of Public Health to require warning labels on synthetically dyed foods and continues to urge the department to act and to build a strong coalition of supportive organizations and scientists.
