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Red List Additive

Synthetic Dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6) — Red List

Synthetic dyes remain legal in the US, while the EU requires warning labels for some dye combinations.

Regulatory snapshot

United States
Allowed Permitted with batch certification. FDA maintains that evidence linking dyes to hyperactivity is not conclusive for the general population.
European Union
Warning label Requires the statement: "May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children" for products containing these dyes.
United Kingdom
Warning label Matches EU labeling requirements; many UK manufacturers have removed these dyes voluntarily.
Canada
Allowed Permitted with recent improvements to labeling requirements (specific names must be listed).
Japan
Allowed Permitted with specific purity and usage standards.

Statuses summarized from public regulatory documents as referenced in the PRūF report. Verify with official regulators for updates.

Why it is on the Red List

  • Mixture studies have focused on dyes combined with preservatives like sodium benzoate.
  • Some regions require warning labels that led to significant global reformulation by major brands.
  • PRūF highlights dye presence so users can compare US recipes with cleaner international versions.

Related pages

Ingredient page: Synthetic Dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6)Red List hubSynthetic Dyes categoryMixture Gap overviewRegulatory frameworks overview

Sources

  • PRūF Red Team Validation report — Internal synthesis provided by PRūF Labs (2025).

Summaries are educational and may be updated as regulations change.