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Food additive · Color

Yellow 5

E-number
E102
CAS
1934-21-0

A synthetic azo dye (tartrazine) used in candy, drinks, snacks, cereals and pickles. US labels must name it because some people are sensitive to it.

  • 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 Yellow 5 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]

  • Warning label requiredRegulatory

    US law requires foods that contain it to declare it by name (21 CFR 74.705). [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 with the same warning. — [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. Must be declared by name. — [6]
Canada Permitted On Health Canada's List of Permitted Food Colours, with conditions of use. — [7]
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“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there.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.

Popular products that list Yellow 5

400 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list Yellow 5. 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 (32)
  • e102
  • yellow5
  • yellow 5
  • tartrazine
  • colour e102
  • yellow no 5
  • colours e102
  • yellow dye 5
  • yellow 5 lake
  • color yellow 5
  • yellow 5 and 6
  • colors yellow 5
  • yellow dye no 5
  • yellows 5 and 6
  • jaune tartrazine
  • tartrazine jaune
  • colour tartrazine
  • fd and c yellow 5
  • colours tartrazine
  • color yellow 5 lake
  • yellow 5 and 6 lake
  • color added yellow 5
  • color yellow 5 and 6
  • fd and c yellow no 5
  • yellow 5 and yellow 6
  • fd and c yellow 5 lake
  • yellow 5 aluminum lake
  • color fd and c yellow 5
  • colors fd and c yellow 5
  • colorings fd and c yellow 5
  • colors fd and c yellow no 5
  • fd and c yellow no 5 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. 21 CFR 74.705 FD&C Yellow No. 5

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

    “shall specifically declare the presence of FD&C Yellow No. 5 by listing the color additive as FD&C Yellow No. 5 among the list of ingredients.”

    ecfr.gov

  7. 3. List of Permitted Food Colours: Tartrazine (item T.1)

    Health Canada · Oct 20, 2025 · Regulator

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

    canada.ca