Food additive · Color
Yellow 6
- E-number
- E110
- CAS
- 2783-94-0
A synthetic azo dye (sunset yellow) used in candy, drinks, snacks and baked goods.
- 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 Yellow 6 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]
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 | 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. | — | [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“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there.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 6
327 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list Yellow 6. The 12 most scanned:
-
Nacho Cheese Flavored Doritos Doritos · 9.25 oz (262.2 g) Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Nacho Cheese Doritos · 1 oz (28.3 g) Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Trail Mix Kirkland Signature · 57 g (2 oz) Score 19 out of 100 Bad -
Trail Mix Kirkland · 1.81 kg Score 24 out of 100 Poor -
Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar Quaker · 411 g Score 20 out of 100 Poor -
Toast Chee sandwich crackers Lance · 43 g Score 11 out of 100 Bad -
Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips Doritos · 411 g Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Flamin' Hot Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks Cheetos · 8.5 oz (240.9 g) Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Takis Takis · 280.7 g Score 11 out of 100 Bad -
Chunky Salsa Medium Tostitos · 15 oz (425.2 g) Score 14 out of 100 Bad -
Fruity Pebbles Post · 11 oz Score 10 out of 100 Bad -
Buttermilk Ranch Rice Crisps Quaker Score 15 out of 100 Bad
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 (26)
- e110
- yellow6
- yellow 6
- yellow no 6
- colours e110
- jaune soleil
- yellow dye 6
- sunset yellow
- yellow 6 lake
- color yellow 6
- jaune orange s
- orange yellow s
- jaune soleil fcf
- fd and c yellow 6
- sunset yellow fcf
- color yellow 6 lake
- colour sunset yellow
- fd and c yellow no 6
- fd and c yellow 6 lake
- yellow 6 aluminum lake
- color fd and c yellow 6
- color added yellow 6 lake
- color fd and c yellow no 6
- colors fd and c yellow no 6
- color fd and c yellow 6 lake
- fd and c yellow no 6 aluminum lake
Sources
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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
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“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
-
Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes
“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
-
California AB 2316 (2024), Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition
“beginning December 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
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21 CFR 74.706 FD&C Yellow No. 6
ecfr.gov
-
3. List of Permitted Food Colours: Sunset Yellow FCF (item S.6)
“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 tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm”
canada.ca