Key Facts
- →Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 appear in over 90% of artificially colored U.S. foods
- →EU law requires a warning label: 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'
- →The FDA ordered the phase-out of Red No. 3 in January 2025 after cancer studies
The Hyperactivity Link
Multiple EU-funded studies — including the landmark 2007 McCann study published in The Lancet — found statistically significant increases in hyperactive behavior in children who consumed mixes of artificial dyes with sodium benzoate. The EU requires a warning label on any food containing these dyes. The FDA has not followed suit, citing different regulatory standards for causal evidence.
FDA Action on Red No. 3
In January 2025, the FDA ordered the phase-out of Red No. 3 (Erythrosine / E127) from food and ingested drugs, citing studies showing it caused cancer in male rats at high doses. Manufacturers have until 2027–2028 to reformulate. It remains in many products currently on shelves.
The Most Flagged Dyes
Red No. 40 (Allura Red / E129), Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine / E102), and Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow / E110) are the three most widely used artificial dyes in the U.S. food supply. Together they appear in cereals, candy, beverages, snack foods, and processed meats. Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2 are common in confectionery and sports drinks.
Natural Alternatives
Many companies have reformulated products for European markets using natural colorings: beet juice (red), turmeric (yellow), spirulina (blue-green), and annatto (orange). The same products sold in the U.S. often still contain synthetic dyes — a double standard that has drawn increasing criticism.