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Food additive · Color

Red 40

E-number
E129
CAS
25956-17-6

A synthetic azo dye made from petroleum-derived chemicals, used to color candy, cereals, drinks and snacks.

  • Food additive
  • Synthetic dye
  • Color (added)
  • EU warning-label dye
  • Petroleum-derived dye
  • Ultra-processing marker
  • Expert review pending
High concern Level 3 of 4 How concern levels work

A regulatory warning or restriction somewhere, or strong evidence of harm at typical intake. The concern level sets how many points Red 40 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]

  • Being phased outRegulatory

    The FDA is working with industry to remove six petroleum-based dyes from US food by the end of 2027; California bans them in school meals from December 31, 2027. [4][5]

  • Under regulatory reviewInfo

    The FDA lists FD&C Red No. 40 under risk-management action for the dye phase-out. [6]

Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.

Rules around the world

WhereStatusDetailsDateSource
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; foods must carry the same warning (assimilated Regulation 1333/2008, Annex V). — [2]
United States Permitted Listed for use in food. In April 2025 the FDA asked industry to phase petroleum-based dyes out of food; its pledge tracker targets the end of 2027. — [7]
Canada Permitted On Health Canada's List of Permitted Food Colours, with conditions of use. — [8]
California (US) Restricted Not allowed in California school meals or school-sold foods from December 31, 2027 (AB 2316). From Dec 31, 2027 [5]

“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.

Red 40 in the news

GoodSwap story about Red 40, every claim with its source.

  1. Rule check Red 40 needs a warning label in the EU and the UK EU and UK law requires a warning label, while the FDA describes US company commitments to remove dyes as voluntary.

Popular products that list Red 40

421 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list Red 40. The 12 most scanned:

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 (35)
  • e129
  • red40
  • red 40
  • red no 40
  • allura red
  • red dye 40
  • colour e129
  • red 40 lake
  • allurarot ac
  • color red 40
  • colours e129
  • red 40 color
  • rouge allura
  • allura red ac
  • colors red 40
  • red dye no 40
  • fd and c red 40
  • rouge allura ac
  • allura red color
  • allura red colour
  • color red 40 lake
  • colour allura red
  • color added red 40
  • fd and c red no 40
  • coloring red 40 lake
  • colour allura red ac
  • fd and c red 40 lake
  • red 40 aluminum lake
  • color fd and c red 40
  • colors fd and c red 40
  • artificial color red 40
  • color fd and c red no 40
  • color fd and c red 40 lake
  • color added fd and c red 40
  • fd and c red no 40 aluminum lake

Sources

  1. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of 16 December 2008 on food additives

    European Union (Official Journal) · Dec 16, 2008 · Law

    “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  2. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (as it applies in the UK), Annex V: food colours requiring additional labelling

    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Law

    “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

    legislation.gov.uk

  3. Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

    The Lancet · November 2007 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  4. Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Regulator

    “FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—by the end of 2027.”

    fda.gov

  5. California AB 2316 (2024), Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition

    California Legislative Information · Sep 28, 2024 · Law

    “beginning December 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school”

    leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

  6. List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Jul 29, 2026 · Regulator

    “The table below includes select food ingredients (including food and color additives), food contact substances, and contaminants under FDA review as of May 12, 2026 .”

    fda.gov

  7. 21 CFR 74.340 FD&C Red No. 40

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 29, 2016 · Law

    “The color additive FD&C Red No. 40 is principally the disodium salt of 6-hydroxy-5-[(2-methoxy-5-methyl-4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid.”

    ecfr.gov

  8. 3. List of Permitted Food Colours: Allura Red (item A.2)

    Health Canada · Oct 20, 2025 · Regulator

    “If used singly, the amount not to exceed 300 ppm. If used in any combination with amaranth, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm”

    canada.ca