Careful-shopper list
Petroleum dyes in holiday candy and baking
Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 color most US candy canes, frosting and sprinkles, next to Blue 1, Blue 2 and Red 3. In Europe, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 must carry a warning that they may affect children's activity and attention. California bans Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and both blues from public school food from 2028, and Red 3 from all food from 2027.
Show:
Allura Red AC (Red 40) E129Red 40 (E129) is a petroleum-based dye. It's legal in the US and EU, but European packages must carry a warning about hyperactivity in children, and California is removing it from school food.Best to avoidBrilliant Blue FCF (Blue 1) E133Blue 1 (E133) is a synthetic blue dye with a cleaner safety record than most petroleum dyes, and it doesn't need a warning in the EU. It's still being removed from California school food and is part of the FDA's push to phase out synthetic dyes.Best to avoidErythrosine (Red 3) E127Red 3 (E127) is a pink dye the FDA is removing from US food by 2027 because of cancer findings in rats. The EU already limits it to candied cherries.Best to avoidIndigo carmine (Blue 2) E132Indigo carmine (Blue 2, E132) is a synthetic blue dye used in candy, cereal and pet food. It's legal, but it's one of the petroleum dyes the FDA wants phased out, and California is removing it from school food.Best to avoidSunset Yellow FCF (Yellow 6) E110Yellow 6 (E110) is a petroleum-based orange dye. It's legal in the US and EU, but European packages must carry a warning about hyperactivity in children, and California is removing it from school food.Best to avoidTartrazine (Yellow 5) E102Tartrazine (Yellow 5, E102) is a synthetic yellow dye linked to hyperactivity in some children and to hives in sensitive people. It must carry a warning in the EU.Best to avoid