Yellow 5
Also listed as Tartrazine, FD&C Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 5, E102, CI 19140, and FD&C Yellow 5.
This is what the ingredient is.
Yellow 5, also called tartrazine, is a bright lemon-yellow dye made for food and drinks. On a label you may see Yellow 5, FD&C Yellow No. 5, or E102.
Here is why it shows up on the label.
It gives soft drinks, candy, cereal, and snacks a clear yellow color. Makers also mix it with blue dyes when they want a green shade.
Here is what food agencies say.
The FDA allows Yellow 5 in food and requires it to be named on the label. Europe lists it as additive E102 and sets a suggested daily limit of about 7.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. In the EU, packs that use it must carry a warning about possible effects on activity and attention in children.
Here is what research has found.
It is one of the most studied food dyes. A well-known UK trial often called the Southampton study found a link with hyperactivity in some children, which is why Europe added the warning label.
Here are a few things worth knowing.
Some people who react to aspirin also react to this dye. Watch for hives, breathing trouble, or other allergy signs if you know you are sensitive.
Sources
- FDA 21 CFR 74.705
- EFSA Scientific Opinion 2009
- Pediatrics Journal 2012
How to read this page
We publish plain facts about this ingredient so a label is easier to read. This is not medical advice, and it is not a recommendation to buy, avoid, or use anything. For a personal health question, talk with a clinician who knows your history.