Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Side Effects

Red 40 (Allura Red AC) is a artificial food dye with 2 high-severity side effects. Found in 34 products in our database. FDA approved — no warning labels required.

5
Known Side Effects
34
Products Contain It
2
High Severity
4
Safer Alternatives

What Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC)?

Red 40 is the most widely used artificial food dye in the United States, derived from petroleum. It gives foods a bright red color and is found in candy, cereals, beverages, and snacks. Multiple studies have linked it to hyperactivity in children.

Also known as:
Allura Red ACFD&C Red No. 40E129Red 40 Lake

Known Side Effects

High Risk Hyperactivity in children
High Risk Behavioral changes and attention deficit symptoms
Moderate Allergic reactions (hives, swelling)
Moderate Potential carcinogenicity (contaminated with benzidine)
Moderate Migraine headaches

Regulatory Status

🇺🇸 FDA Status

FDA approved — no warning labels required. Used in thousands of US products.

🇪🇺 EU Status

Legal but requires mandatory warning label: 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.'

Scientific References

  1. McCann et al. (2007) — Lancet study linking food dyes to hyperactivity in children
  2. CSPI petition to FDA citing multiple studies on behavioral effects
  3. FDA review acknowledging benzidine contamination in some batches

Products Containing Red 40 (Allura Red AC) (34 found)

These products were found to contain red 40 (allura red ac) or its variants in our database of 26,000+ grocery products.

#ProductBrandScore
1Trail Mix Snack PacksKirkland,Kirkland Signature,M&M's0/100
2Trail MixKirkland0/100
3Trail MixKirkland1/100
4ORIGINAL GRAPE, GREEN APPLE, LEMON, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE BITE SIZE CANDIES, ORIGINALMars Chocolate North America LLC1/100
5equate antacidUnknown4/100
6Skittles LittlesSkittles9/100
7Skittles Pop'dSkittles12/100
8Trail MixKirkland18/100
9PEANUT CHOCOLATE CANDIES, PEANUTMars Chocolate North America LLC20/100
10ASSORTED CARAMELS SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE CANDY, ASSORTED CARAMELSRussell Stover Candies Inc.20/100
11Instant Oatmeal Fruit & Cream Flavor Variety PackGreat Value24/100
12Equate Complete MultivitaminEquate24/100
13ORIGINAL GRAPE, LEMON, LIME, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE JELLY BEANS, ORIGINALMars, Inc.25/100
14Skittles Original CandySkittles30/100
15ORIGINAL BITE SIZE CANDIES, ORIGINALMars, Inc.30/100

Safer Alternatives to Red 40 (Allura Red AC)

Beet juice powderPaprika extractLycopene (from tomatoes)Anthocyanins (from berries)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the side effects of Red 40?
Red 40 has been linked to hyperactivity in children, behavioral changes, allergic reactions (hives, swelling), migraine headaches, and potential carcinogenicity due to benzidine contamination. The EU requires warning labels on products containing Red 40.
Is Red 40 safe to eat?
The FDA considers Red 40 safe, but the EU requires warning labels about effects on children. Studies have linked it to behavioral issues, and it may contain traces of benzidine, a known carcinogen.
What foods contain Red 40?
Red 40 is found in Skittles, Doritos, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, many cereals, candy, fruit snacks, and thousands of processed foods. Use CheckIt AI to scan any product instantly.

⚕️ Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Side effect data is compiled from published scientific studies and regulatory assessments. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. Last updated: 2026-03-05.

Other Ingredient Side Effects

Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) Red 3 (Erythrosine) Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) Aspartame Sucralose Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) All Ingredient Side Effects Banned in Europe Ingredient Encyclopedia
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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

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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

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Banned in Europe

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Ingredient Side Effects

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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/side-effects/red-40
MLA"Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/side-effects/red-40.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/side-effects/red-40">Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026sideeffectsred40, title = {Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/side-effects/red-40}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }