Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Safe?

Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC) safe to consume? Here's what our analysis found across 894 products in our database.

Also known as: Allura Red, FD&C Red No. 40, CI 16035, E129

FDA Status
FDA-approved since 1971. Currently under review as part of the 2025-2026 FDA food dye reassessment. Listed on the FDA's ...
EU (EFSA) Status
EFSA re-evaluated in 2009 and maintained approval with an ADI of 7 mg/kg body weight/day. EU requires warning label: 'ma...

Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI): 7 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA, 2009)

What Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC)?

A synthetic azo dye derived from petroleum, used to give food a bright red color. It is the most widely used food dye in the United States, found in candy, beverages, cereals, and snacks.

How Does It Work?

Azo dyes are metabolized by intestinal bacteria into aromatic amines. Some research suggests these metabolites may affect neurotransmitter activity. The Southampton study (2007) found that mixtures of artificial colors (including Red 40) combined with sodium benzoate were associated with increased hyperactivity in some children.

Commonly found in: Skittles, Doritos, Gatorade, Froot Loops, Twizzlers, Jell-O, Mountain Dew Code Red

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Why Do People Avoid It?

Regulatory Timeline

Natural Alternatives

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Scientific References

  1. McCann et al. (2007). Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children. The Lancet, 370(9598), 1560-1567
  2. EFSA (2009). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Allura Red AC (E 129)
  3. FDA (2011). Background Document for the Food Advisory Committee: Certified Color Additives in Food and Possible Association with ADHD in Children
  4. Arnold et al. (2012). Artificial food colors and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms. Pediatrics, 129(3), 510-521

📊 Top Categories Containing Red 40

Candy 199Confectionery Products 57Snacks 49Processed Cereal Products 49Chips 31Pretzels & Snacks 31

Products Containing Red 40 (894 found)

ProductBrandScore
SOUR PATCH KIDS SOFT CANDY TROPICAL FAT FREE1X2 OZMondelez USA0/100
SWEDISH FISH ASSORTED SOFT CANDY ASSORTED FAT FREE16X1.9 LBMondelez Int. US (0074819091009)0/100
WATERMELON, CHERRY, STRAWBERRY & FRUIT PUNCH FAVEREDS MINI FRUIT CHEWS, WATERMELON, CHERRY, STRAWBERRY & FRUIT PUNCHWm. Wrigley Jr. Company0/100
SOUR PATCH KIDS SOFT CANDY KIDS FAT FREE24X48 1NMondelez Int. US (0074819091009)0/100
Peanut Butter M&MsM&Ms0/100
SOUR PATCH KIDS SOFT CANDY KIDS FAT FREE24X5 OZMondelez USA0/100
Lucky Charms Soft Baked TreatsGENERAL MILLS SALES INC.0/100
PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CANDIES, PEANUT BUTTERMars Chocolate North America LLC0/100
ORIGINAL BITE SIZE CANDIES, STRAWBERRY, LEMON, GREEN APPLE, ORANGE, GRAPEWm. Wrigley Jr. Company0/100
JELLY BEANS, STINK BUG, TOASTED MARSHMALLOW, DIRTY DISHWATER, BIRTHDAY CAKE, ROTTEN EGG, BUTTERED POPCORN, TOOTHPASTE, BERRY BLUE, BARF, PEACH, CANNED DOG FOOD, CHOCOLATE PUDDING, BOOGER, JUICY PEAR, SPOILED MILK, COCONUT, STINKY SOCKS, TUTTI-FRUITTI, DEAD FISH, STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIEJelly Belly Candy Company0/100
Pringles Crisps Cheeseburger 5.5ozKellogg Company US0/100
Pringles Crisps Memphis Original Bbq 5.5ozKellogg Company US0/100
Fruit spins sweetened multigrain cereal withGreat Value0/100
FRUITY PEBBLES SWEETENED RICE CEREAL, FRUITY PEBBLESPost Consumer Brands, LLC0/100
PRINGLES CRISPS CHEESEBURGER 5.96OZKellogg Company US0/100
JELLY BEANS, STINK BUG, TOASTED MARSHMALLOW, DIRTY DISHWATER, BIRTHDAY CAKE, ROTTEN EGG, BUTTERED POPCORN, TOOTHPASTE, BERRY BLUE, BARF, PEACH, CANNED DOG FOOD, CHOCOLATE PUDDING, BOOGER, JUICY PEAR, SPOILED MILK, COCONUT, STINKY SOCKS, TUTTI-FRUITTI, DEAD FISH, STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIEJelly Belly Candy Company0/100
FROSTED STRAWBERRY TOASTER PASTRIES, FROSTED STRAWBERRYThe Kellogg Company 0/100
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Chocolate Chip 14.7ozKellogg Company US0/100
Lucky Charms Treat BarGENERAL MILLS SALES INC.0/100
Sour Patch Kids0/100

Showing 20 of 894 products.

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This page provides ingredient information for educational purposes. It is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance.

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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/red-40
MLA"Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-04-05. https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/red-40.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/red-40">Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026ingredientsafetyred40, title = {Is Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/red-40}, note = {Retrieved 2026-04-05} }