What Is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives

⚡ Quick Facts

E-NumberE110
FDA StatusFDA-approved. Listed under 21 CFR 74.706. No special labeling requirement beyond standard color additive declaration.
EFSA StatusEFSA re-evaluated in 2009 and reduced the ADI from 2.5 to 1-4 mg/kg body weight/day. EU requires the children's behavior…
ADI1-4 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA, 2014 revision)
SeverityModerate Risk (6/10)

What Is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)?

A synthetic orange-yellow azo dye commonly used in beverages, candy, baked goods, and sauces.

Mechanism of Action

Metabolized by gut bacteria into sulfanilic acid and 1-amino-2-naphthol. The latter metabolite has raised concerns in some toxicological studies regarding potential genotoxicity, though regulatory bodies have not confirmed a causal risk at typical dietary exposures.

Why People Avoid Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)

Regulatory Status

🇺🇸 FDA

FDA-approved. Listed under 21 CFR 74.706. No special labeling requirement beyond standard color additive declaration.

🇪🇺 EFSA

EFSA re-evaluated in 2009 and reduced the ADI from 2.5 to 1-4 mg/kg body weight/day. EU requires the children's behavior warning label.

Regulatory Timeline

1986 FDA permanently lists Yellow 6
2007 Included in Southampton Study mixtures
2008 EU warning label mandate
2009 EFSA re-evaluation
2014 EFSA revises ADI downward

Products Containing Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) (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
6Trail MixKirkland18/100
7PEANUT CHOCOLATE CANDIES, PEANUTMars Chocolate North America LLC20/100
8ORIGINAL GRAPE, LEMON, LIME, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE JELLY BEANS, ORIGINALMars, Inc.25/100
9Skittles Original CandySkittles30/100
10ORIGINAL BITE SIZE CANDIES, ORIGINALMars, Inc.30/100

Average safety score for products containing Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF): 14/100

Safer Alternatives

✅
Annatto
✅
Paprika
✅
Carrot juice concentrate
✅
Turmeric

Scientific Sources

  1. EFSA (2014). Refined exposure assessment for Sunset Yellow FCF (E 110)
  2. McCann et al. (2007). The Lancet, 370(9598)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)?
A synthetic orange-yellow azo dye commonly used in beverages, candy, baked goods, and sauces.
Is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) safe?
Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) is FDA-approved. Listed under 21 CFR 74.706. No special labeling requirement beyond standard color addi. EFSA re-evaluated in 2009 and reduced the ADI from 2.5 to 1-4 mg/kg body weight/day. EU requires the.
Where is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) banned?
Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) is not currently banned in any major market according to our database.
What are alternatives to Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)?
Safer alternatives to Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) include: Annatto, Paprika, Carrot juice concentrate, Turmeric.
How can I avoid Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)?
Download CheckIt AI and scan any product's barcode or ingredient label. The app will flag Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) and suggest safer alternatives.
What foods contain Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)?
Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) is commonly found in: Reese's Pieces, Sunkist soda, Doritos Nacho Cheese, Fruity Pebbles. Our database has flagged it in 10 products.
What are the side effects of Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)?
Concerns about Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) include: Part of the Southampton Study mixtures; EFSA reduced ADI, suggesting tighter safety margins; EU warning label.
Is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) natural or artificial?
Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF): Metabolized by gut bacteria into sulfanilic acid and 1-amino-2-naphthol. The latter metabolite has raised concerns in some toxicological studies regar.
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Related Ingredients

Compare Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)

Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) vs Red 40 (Allura Red AC)Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) vs Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) vs Red 3 (Erythrosine)Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) vs Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF)Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) vs Caramel Color (4-MEI)Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) vs Titanium Dioxide
Red 40 (Allura Red AC)Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)AspartameBHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)Sodium NitriteCarrageenanSucralose 📱 Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) 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 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredients/yellow-6
MLA"What Is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/ingredients/yellow-6.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredients/yellow-6">What Is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026ingredientsyellow6, title = {What Is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/ingredients/yellow-6}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }