What Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives

⚡ Quick Facts

E-NumberE129
FDA StatusFDA-approved since 1971. Currently under review as part of the 2025-2026 FDA food dye reassessment. Listed on the FDA's …
EFSA StatusEFSA re-evaluated in 2009 and maintained approval with an ADI of 7 mg/kg body weight/day. EU requires warning label: 'ma…
ADI7 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA, 2009)
SeverityModerate Risk (6/10)

What Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC)?

A synthetic azo dye derived from petroleum, used to give food a bright red color. It is the most widely used food dye in the United States, found in candy, beverages, cereals, and snacks.

Mechanism of Action

Azo dyes are metabolized by intestinal bacteria into aromatic amines. Some research suggests these metabolites may affect neurotransmitter activity. The Southampton study (2007) found that mixtures of artificial colors (including Red 40) combined with sodium benzoate were associated with increased hyperactivity in some children.

Why People Avoid Red 40 (Allura Red AC)

Regulatory Status

🇺🇸 FDA

FDA-approved since 1971. Currently under review as part of the 2025-2026 FDA food dye reassessment. Listed on the FDA's certified color additives list.

🇪🇺 EFSA

EFSA re-evaluated in 2009 and maintained approval with an ADI of 7 mg/kg body weight/day. EU requires warning label: 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' (Regulation EC 1333/2008).

Regulatory Timeline

1971 FDA approves Red 40 as a replacement for Red 2
2007 Southampton Study links artificial color mixtures to hyperactivity in children
2008 EU mandates warning labels on products containing Red 40
2009 EFSA re-evaluates and maintains ADI of 7 mg/kg/day
2011 FDA advisory committee votes 8-6 that evidence does not support a causal link to hyperactivity
2021 California AB 660 requires warning labels on products with Red 40
2025 FDA begins phased review of petroleum-based food dyes

Products Containing Red 40 (Allura Red AC) (10 found)

#ProductBrandScore
1Trail Mix Snack PacksKirkland,Kirkland Signature,M&M's0/100
2ORIGINAL GRAPE, GREEN APPLE, LEMON, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE BITE SIZE CANDIES, ORIGINALMars Chocolate North America LLC1/100
3Trail MixKirkland1/100
4equate antacid—4/100
5Skittles LittlesSkittles9/100
6Skittles Pop'dSkittles12/100
7Trail MixKirkland18/100
8ASSORTED CARAMELS SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE CANDY, ASSORTED CARAMELSRussell Stover Candies Inc.20/100
9PEANUT CHOCOLATE CANDIES, PEANUTMars Chocolate North America LLC20/100
10Instant Oatmeal Fruit & Cream Flavor Variety PackGreat Value24/100

Average safety score for products containing Red 40 (Allura Red AC): 11/100

Safer Alternatives

✅
Beet juice extract
✅
Carmine (cochineal, not vegan)
✅
Paprika oleoresin
✅
Lycopene (tomato extract)
✅
Anthocyanins (grape skin, elderberry)

Scientific Sources

  1. McCann et al. (2007). Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children. The Lancet, 370(9598), 1560-1567
  2. EFSA (2009). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Allura Red AC (E 129)
  3. FDA (2011). Background Document for the Food Advisory Committee: Certified Color Additives in Food and Possible Association with ADHD in Children
  4. Arnold et al. (2012). Artificial food colors and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms. Pediatrics, 129(3), 510-521

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Red 40 (Allura Red AC)?
A synthetic azo dye derived from petroleum, used to give food a bright red color. It is the most widely used food dye in the United States, found in candy, beverages, cereals, and snacks.
Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC) safe?
Red 40 (Allura Red AC) is FDA-approved since 1971. Currently under review as part of the 2025-2026 FDA food dye reassessment. . EFSA re-evaluated in 2009 and maintained approval with an ADI of 7 mg/kg body weight/day. EU require.
Where is Red 40 (Allura Red AC) banned?
Red 40 (Allura Red AC) is not currently banned in any major market according to our database.
What are alternatives to Red 40 (Allura Red AC)?
Safer alternatives to Red 40 (Allura Red AC) include: Beet juice extract, Carmine (cochineal, not vegan), Paprika oleoresin, Lycopene (tomato extract), Anthocyanins (grape skin, elderberry).
How can I avoid Red 40 (Allura Red AC)?
Download CheckIt AI and scan any product's barcode or ingredient label. The app will flag Red 40 (Allura Red AC) and suggest safer alternatives.
What foods contain Red 40 (Allura Red AC)?
Red 40 (Allura Red AC) is commonly found in: Skittles, Doritos, Gatorade, Froot Loops, Twizzlers, Jell-O, Mountain Dew Code Red. Our database has flagged it in 10 products.
What are the side effects of Red 40 (Allura Red AC)?
Concerns about Red 40 (Allura Red AC) include: Research associations with behavioral changes in children (McCann et al., 2007); EU requires warning labels — many parents prefer to avoid; Some individuals report sensitivity reactions (hives, headaches).
Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC) natural or artificial?
Red 40 (Allura Red AC) is a synthetic (artificial) ingredient. Azo dyes are metabolized by intestinal bacteria into aromatic amines. Some research suggests these metabolites may affec.
📬

Get Your Free Weekly Clean Food Guide

Join health-conscious shoppers. Every week: worst products to avoid, cleanest new finds, and FDA recall alerts.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Scan Any Product for Red 40 (Allura Red AC)

Point your camera at any food label and instantly know if it contains Red 40 (Allura Red AC).

Download CheckIt AI — Scan Free →

Related Ingredients

Compare Red 40 (Allura Red AC)

Red 40 (Allura Red AC) vs Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)Red 40 (Allura Red AC) vs Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)Red 40 (Allura Red AC) vs Red 3 (Erythrosine)Red 40 (Allura Red AC) vs Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF)Red 40 (Allura Red AC) vs Caramel Color (4-MEI)Red 40 (Allura Red AC) vs Titanium Dioxide
Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)AspartameBHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)Sodium NitriteCarrageenanSucralose 📱 Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Scanner App Ingredient Comparisons All Ingredients Ingredients Banned in Europe Scoring Methodology

⚕️ This page provides ingredient information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary guidance.

Scanner Apps

Gluten Scanner AppDairy Scanner AppSeed Oil Scanner AppPeanut Allergy Scanner AppADHD Food Scanner AppIBS Food Scanner AppPregnancy Food Scanner AppCarnivore Diet Scanner AppKeto Scanner AppPaleo Scanner AppVegan Scanner AppCeliac Scanner AppMigraine Food Scanner AppKidney Diet Scanner AppCrohn's Food Scanner AppThyroid Scanner AppPCOS Food Scanner AppGout Food Scanner AppEczema Food Scanner AppToddler Food Scanner AppHeart Health Scanner AppAthlete Nutrition Scanner AppAcne Food Scanner AppFODMAP Scanner AppAIP Scanner AppMold Toxin Scanner AppHistamine Scanner AppOxalate Scanner AppNightshade Scanner AppSoy Scanner AppCorn Scanner AppEgg Allergy Scanner AppTree Nut Scanner AppShellfish Allergy Scanner AppSulfite Scanner AppSalicylate Scanner AppLectin Scanner AppSugar-Free Scanner AppLow Sodium Scanner AppMediterranean Diet Scanner AppWhole30 Scanner AppDiabetic Food Scanner AppColitis Food Scanner AppIC Food Scanner AppLupus Food Scanner AppHashimoto's Scanner AppEndometriosis Food Scanner AppAutoimmune Food Scanner AppBaby Formula Scanner AppPet Food Scanner AppSenior Nutrition Scanner AppOzempic Food Scanner AppWegovy Food Scanner AppMounjaro Food Scanner AppUltra-Processed Food ScannerHalal Food Scanner AppKosher Food Scanner AppAnti-Inflammatory Scanner AppCandida Diet Scanner AppSIBO Food Scanner AppLeaky Gut Scanner AppCholesterol Food Scanner AppBlood Pressure Scanner AppWeight Loss Food Scanner AppPesticide Food Scanner AppHeavy Metal Scanner AppPFAS Food Scanner AppBreastfeeding Food Scanner AppAutism Food Scanner AppFertility Food Scanner AppGAPS Diet Scanner AppElimination Diet Scanner AppLow Carb Scanner AppNanny Food Scanner AppGrocery Store Scanner AppFood Allergy Scanner AppDye-Free Food Scanner AppMuscle Building Scanner AppMarathon Runner Scanner AppKids Food Scanner AppFood Sensitivity Scanner AppClean Label Scanner AppFSA/HSA Food Scanner AppWhole Food Scanner AppDog Food Scanner AppCat Food Scanner App

Ingredient Safety

Red 40Yellow 5Yellow 6AspartameBHABHTSodium NitriteCarrageenanSucraloseTitanium DioxidePotassium BromateHigh Fructose Corn SyrupMSGSodium BenzoateTBHQPolysorbate 80Red 3Caramel ColorSoy LecithinNatural FlavorsAcesulfame-KMaltodextrinXanthan GumGuar GumCitric AcidErythritolBlue 1Propyl GallateMono & DiglyceridesPectinAcacia GumAgarAnnattoAutolyzed YeastAzodicarbonamideBVOCalcium PropionateCarnauba WaxCelluloseDATEMDisodium InosinateGellan GumKonjacLocust Bean GumMethylcelluloseSodium AlginateSodium Aluminum PhosphateTragacanth Gum

Food Safety Answers

Is Red 40 Banned in Europe?What Foods Have Seed Oils?Is Carrageenan Safe?Worst Food AdditivesIs BHA Safe?Does Gatorade Have Food Dye?Titanium Dioxide in FoodIs Aspartame Safe?Is Sodium Nitrite Dangerous?Is MSG Bad for You?What Is HFCS?Is Sucralose Safe?Food Dye Banned in Europe?Is Potassium Bromate Banned?What Is Natural Flavors?Is Soy Lecithin Bad?Is Maltodextrin Bad?Is Xanthan Gum Safe?Is Red 3 Banned?Is TBHQ Bad?Foods Banned in Other CountriesIs Citric Acid Bad?What Is Polysorbate 80?Is Caramel Color Safe?Is Palm Oil Bad?What Is Cellulose in Food?Is Acesulfame-K Safe?Is Erythritol Safe?Is Guar Gum Safe?Is Food in America Safe?Cheerios & PesticidesBest Food Scanner AppHow to Read Food LabelsIs Yellow 5 Safe?Are Preservatives Bad?Artificial Sweetener SafetyIs Canola Oil Bad?Hidden Names for SugarFoods That Cause InflammationIs Annatto Safe?Is Azodicarbonamide Safe?Is Calcium Propionate Safe?Is Carnauba Wax Safe?Is Gelatin Halal?Is Locust Bean Gum Safe?Mono & Diglycerides SafetyIs Pectin Safe?Propylene Glycol in FoodWhat Is Agar Agar?What Is BVO?What Is DATEM?What Is Sodium Alginate?What Is Sodium Benzoate?

Cleanest Rankings

Cleanest Protein BarsCleanest CerealCleanest YogurtCleanest ChipsCleanest SnacksCleanest BreadCleanest SaucesCleanest JuiceCleanest CookiesCleanest CandyCleanest Ice CreamCleanest PastaCleanest Baby FoodCleanest Energy DrinksCleanest Protein PowderCleanest Frozen MealsCleanest CondimentsCleanest SodaCleanest Pet Food

Free-From Finder

Protein Bars Without Seed OilsCereal Without Artificial ColorsSnacks Without PreservativesYogurt Without Artificial SweetenersChips Without Seed OilsCookies Without Artificial ColorsCandy Without Artificial ColorsSoda Without Artificial SweetenersFrozen Meals Without MSGBaby Food Without SugarEnergy Drinks Without SweetenersProtein Bars Without SweetenersSnacks Without Seed OilsCereal Without SugarBread Without PreservativesIce Cream Without CarrageenanPasta Without Gluten

Store Scan Results

Costco Protein Bars RankedWalmart Cereal RankedTarget Snacks RankedWhole Foods Yogurt RankedKroger Bread RankedAldi Snacks RankedCostco Snacks RankedWalmart Chips RankedTarget Cookies RankedTrader Joe's Snacks RankedWhole Foods Bread RankedWalmart Juice RankedTarget Cereal RankedWalmart Bread RankedKroger Snacks RankedAldi Cereal RankedWhole Foods Snacks RankedKroger Cereal RankedAldi Bread RankedTrader Joe's Cereal RankedCostco Bread Ranked

Ingredient Comparisons

Red 40 vs Yellow 5Red 40 vs Yellow 6Aspartame vs SucraloseAspartame vs HFCSBHA vs BHTRed 40 vs AspartameCarrageenan vs Soy LecithinSucralose vs HFCSTBHQ vs BHATBHQ vs BHTRed 40 vs Titanium DioxideRed 40 vs Caramel ColorMSG vs Natural FlavorsSodium Benzoate vs Potassium BromateYellow 5 vs Red 3Polysorbate 80 vs CarrageenanXanthan Gum vs Guar GumRed 40 vs Red 3Erythritol vs SucraloseMaltodextrin vs HFCSAll Ingredient Comparisons

Store Reports

Walmart Report CardTarget Report CardCostco Report CardKroger Report CardWhole Foods Report CardTrader Joe's Report CardAldi Report CardSam's Club Report Card

Original Research

All Research StudiesGrocery Product Safety StudySeed Oil CensusSafest Grocery StoresSchool Lunch Safety ReportMost Common AdditivesBanned Ingredients in US Products

App Comparisons

CheckIt vs YukaCheckIt vs EWGCheckIt vs FooducateCheckIt vs MyFitnessPalCheckIt vs Think DirtyCheckIt vs FigCheckIt vs SooseeCheckIt vs NoomYuka vs EWGYuka vs Fooducate

Guides & Tools

Download CheckIt AIUser ReviewsFood RecallsBanned in EuropeFood Safety ReportIngredient GlossaryStore RankingsIngredient EncyclopediaHealthier Swap FinderOur MethodologyIngredient ComparisonsTopic GuidesAll Food Safety AnswersOpen DataWhat's Really In Your Food
📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "What Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredients/red-40
MLA"What Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/ingredients/red-40.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredients/red-40">What Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026ingredientsred40, title = {What Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/ingredients/red-40}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }