Food additive · Color
Ponceau 4R
- E-number
- E124
- CAS
- 2611-82-7
A synthetic red azo dye (cochineal red A) used in some European sweets and meat products. It is not listed for food use in the US.
- Food additive
- Synthetic dye
- Color (added)
- EU warning-label dye
- Petroleum-derived dye
- Ultra-processing marker
- Expert review pending
Concern level
A regulatory warning or restriction somewhere, or strong evidence of harm at typical intake. The concern level sets how many points Ponceau 4R costs on a product’s receipt.
What the evidence says
-
Linked to hyperactivity in childrenRegulatory
In the EU and UK, foods with this color must state that it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". [1][2][3]
-
Not permitted in food somewhereRegulatory
Not listed by the FDA as a color additive for food, so not permitted in US food. [4]
Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.
Rules around the world
| Where | Status | Details | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | Warning label required | Permitted; foods must carry the warning on activity and attention in children. | Jul 20, 2010 | [1] |
| United Kingdom | Warning label required | Permitted with the same warning. | — | [2] |
| United States | Not permitted | Not listed by the FDA as a color additive for food, so not permitted in US food. | — | [4] |
“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.
Diets and allergens
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
For the ingredient in general. Always check the package: a product’s own labels win.
Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (4)
- e124
- ponceau 4r
- cochineal red a
- colour ponceau 4r
Sources
-
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of 16 December 2008 on food additives
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
legislation.gov.uk
-
“Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.”
doi.org