What Is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives

⚡ Quick Facts

E-NumberE102
FDA StatusFDA-approved. Since 1979, FDA requires Yellow 5 to be specifically listed on food labels (21 CFR 74.705) due to potentia…
EFSA StatusEFSA re-evaluated in 2009, maintaining an ADI of 7.5 mg/kg body weight/day. EU requires the same warning label as Red 40…
ADI7.5 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA, 2009)
SeverityModerate Risk (6/10)

What Is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)?

A synthetic lemon-yellow azo dye used in beverages, candy, cereals, and snack foods. It is the second most commonly used food dye in the US.

Mechanism of Action

As an azo dye, tartrazine is reduced by intestinal azo-reductase enzymes and gut bacteria to sulfanilic acid and aminopyrazolone metabolites. It has been associated with sensitivity reactions in individuals with aspirin intolerance, potentially through leukotriene pathway modulation.

Why People Avoid Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)

Regulatory Status

🇺🇸 FDA

FDA-approved. Since 1979, FDA requires Yellow 5 to be specifically listed on food labels (21 CFR 74.705) due to potential sensitivity reactions.

🇪🇺 EFSA

EFSA re-evaluated in 2009, maintaining an ADI of 7.5 mg/kg body weight/day. EU requires the same warning label as Red 40 regarding potential effects on children's activity and attention.

Regulatory Timeline

1969 FDA permanently lists Yellow 5 for food use
1979 FDA requires specific label declaration (unique among dyes at the time)
2007 Southampton Study includes Yellow 5 in color mixture testing
2008 EU mandates warning labels
2009 EFSA confirms ADI of 7.5 mg/kg/day

Products Containing Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) (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
4Skittles LittlesSkittles9/100
5Skittles Pop'dSkittles12/100
6Equate—16/100
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
10ORIGINAL GRAPE, LEMON, LIME, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE JELLY BEANS, ORIGINALMars, Inc.25/100

Average safety score for products containing Yellow 5 (Tartrazine): 12/100

Safer Alternatives

✅
Turmeric (curcumin)
✅
Safflower extract
✅
Beta-carotene
✅
Annatto

Scientific Sources

  1. McCann et al. (2007). Food additives and hyperactive behaviour. The Lancet, 370(9598)
  2. EFSA (2009). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Tartrazine (E 102)
  3. Elhkim et al. (2007). New considerations regarding the risk assessment on Tartrazine. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 47(3), 308-316

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)?
A synthetic lemon-yellow azo dye used in beverages, candy, cereals, and snack foods. It is the second most commonly used food dye in the US.
Is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) safe?
Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) is FDA-approved. Since 1979, FDA requires Yellow 5 to be specifically listed on food labels (21 CFR 74.. EFSA re-evaluated in 2009, maintaining an ADI of 7.5 mg/kg body weight/day. EU requires the same war.
Where is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) banned?
Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) is not currently banned in any major market according to our database.
What are alternatives to Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)?
Safer alternatives to Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) include: Turmeric (curcumin), Safflower extract, Beta-carotene, Annatto.
How can I avoid Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)?
Download CheckIt AI and scan any product's barcode or ingredient label. The app will flag Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) and suggest safer alternatives.
What foods contain Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)?
Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) is commonly found in: Mountain Dew, Cheetos, Lucky Charms, Starburst, Kraft Mac & Cheese (reformulated 2016), Peeps. Our database has flagged it in 10 products.
What are the side effects of Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)?
Concerns about Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) include: FDA requires specific labeling due to known sensitivity in some individuals; Cross-reactivity reported in aspirin-sensitive individuals; Included in Southampton Study color mixtures associated with hyperactivity.
Is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) natural or artificial?
Yellow 5 (Tartrazine): As an azo dye, tartrazine is reduced by intestinal azo-reductase enzymes and gut bacteria to sulfanilic acid and aminopyrazolone metabolites. It has b.
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Related Ingredients

Compare Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)

Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) vs Red 40 (Allura Red AC)Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) vs Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) vs Red 3 (Erythrosine)Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) vs Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF)Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) vs Caramel Color (4-MEI)Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) vs Titanium Dioxide
Red 40 (Allura Red AC)Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)AspartameBHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)Sodium NitriteCarrageenanSucralose 📱 Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) 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.

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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "What Is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredients/yellow-5
MLA"What Is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/ingredients/yellow-5.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredients/yellow-5">What Is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026ingredientsyellow5, title = {What Is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/ingredients/yellow-5}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }