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Food Dye Lookup

Search any artificial food dye by name or E-number. See health concerns, FDA status, and which countries have banned or restricted it.

9 dyes found

Red No. 40

Allura Red AC · E129

Synthetic Dye

Most widely used food dye in the USA. Linked to hyperactivity in children. EU requires a warning label: 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.'

FDA Status:Approved. Under increased FDA scrutiny as of 2024–2025.

Red No. 3

Erythrosine · E127

High Risk

Linked to thyroid tumors in animal studies. FDA issued a final rule to ban it from food in 2024, with manufacturers given until 2027–2028 to reformulate.

FDA Status:Phased out — FDA ban effective 2027–2028.

Restricted / banned in:EU (cosmetics only since 1994)

Yellow No. 5

Tartrazine · E102

Synthetic Dye

Severe allergic reactions in aspirin-sensitive individuals; hyperactivity in children. Also has genotoxicity signals in some studies.

FDA Status:Approved. Requires label declaration.

Restricted / banned in:NorwayAustria

Yellow No. 6

Sunset Yellow FCF · E110

Synthetic Dye

Adrenal gland tumors in animal studies; hyperactivity in children. EU requires warning label.

FDA Status:Approved.

Restricted / banned in:NorwayFinland

Blue No. 1

Brilliant Blue FCF · E133

Synthetic Dye

Can cross the blood-brain barrier; some hypersensitivity reactions. Animal studies show kidney tumors at high doses.

FDA Status:Approved.

Restricted / banned in:BelgiumFranceGermanySwitzerlandSweden

Blue No. 2

Indigo Carmine · E132

Synthetic Dye

Some animal studies link high doses to brain tumor incidence. Considered the least studied of the FD&C dyes.

FDA Status:Approved.

Green No. 3

Fast Green FCF · E143

Synthetic Dye

Least commonly used FD&C dye. Limited safety data; bladder tumors in male rats at high doses.

FDA Status:Approved (rarely used).

Restricted / banned in:EUUKAustralia

Caramel Color (Class III)

Ammonia Caramel · E150c

High Risk

Contains 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), a potential carcinogen listed under California Prop 65. Common in colas and dark sodas. The 'class' is never declared on labels.

FDA Status:Approved. IARC lists 4-MEI as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic).

Caramel Color (Class IV)

Sulfite Ammonia Caramel · E150d

High Risk

Most widely used caramel color variant. Contains 4-MEI at higher levels than Class III. Found in Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and many dark sauces and beers.

FDA Status:Approved. California requires Prop 65 warnings on products exceeding 29μg 4-MEI per day.

🏛️ 2024–2025 FDA Action

The FDA banned Red No. 3 in January 2024 (effective 2027–2028). Several states have passed or are considering laws banning certain dyes in school foods. Under MAHA pressure, Kraft Heinz and others have pledged to remove synthetic dyes by 2027.

IQ Scanner flags all synthetic dyes with a blue alert — the same ones being phased out. Learn more about artificial dyes →

Why are artificial dyes a concern?

Most artificial food dyes are derived from petroleum. A landmark 2007 study published in The Lancet found that a mixture of common food dyes significantly increased hyperactive behavior in children — prompting EU warning labels. The same dyes remain fully approved in the USA with no warning required.

Natural alternatives like beet juice, turmeric, and spirulina achieve the same visual effect without the synthetic chemical load.

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