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The US allows 9 synthetic food dyes. The EU requires warning labels on 6 of them. Some countries have banned them entirely. Here's what you need to know.
| Name | Safety | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Red 40 (Allura Red) | 🔶 Warning | A synthetic red food dye used in snacks, cereals, and beverages. Linked to hyperactivity in children... |
| Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) | 🔶 Warning | Synthetic yellow dye used in snacks, cereals, and drinks. Banned in Norway and Austria. May cause al... |
| Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow) | 🔶 Warning | Synthetic orange-yellow dye in cheese, candy, and cereals. Linked to allergic reactions and behavior... |
| Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) | ⚠️ Caution | Synthetic blue dye used in candy, ice cream, and beverages. May cross blood-brain barrier. Banned in... |
| Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) | ⚠️ Caution | Synthetic blue dye used in candy and baked goods. May cause nausea and allergic reactions at high do... |
| Red 3 (Erythrosine) | 🔴 Avoid | Synthetic red dye used in candy and maraschino cherries. Banned in cosmetics due to thyroid tumor ri... |
| Green 3 (Fast Green) | 🔶 Warning | Synthetic green dye used in canned peas, mint jelly, and candy. Limited studies but linked to bladde... |
| Caramel Color | ⚠️ Caution | A widely used food coloring in sodas and sauces. Some types contain 4-MEI, a possible carcinogen.... |
| Titanium Dioxide | 🔶 Warning | A whitening agent used in candy and supplements. Banned as a food additive in the EU since 2022.... |
| Amaranth (E123) | 🔴 Avoid | A dark red food dye banned in the US since 1976 due to cancer concerns. Still used in some European ... |
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CheckIt AI. (2026). "Artificial Food Colors & Dyes: Safety Guide | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/topic/artificial-colors"Artificial Food Colors & Dyes: Safety Guide | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-04-17. https://getcheck.it/topic/artificial-colors.<a href="https://getcheck.it/topic/artificial-colors">Artificial Food Colors & Dyes: Safety Guide | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>@misc{checkit2026topicartificialcolors,
title = {Artificial Food Colors & Dyes: Safety Guide | CheckIt AI},
author = {CheckIt AI},
year = {2026},
publisher = {Climaverse PBC},
url = {https://getcheck.it/topic/artificial-colors},
note = {Retrieved 2026-04-17}
}