Red 40: Is This Common Food Dye Bad for Your Health?
Key takeaways:
Red Dye 40 is one of the most common artificial colorings used in processed foods, beverages, medications, and cosmetics in the U.S.
Over the years, research has raised multiple concerns about the food additive’s safety, such as hyperactivity in children and allergic reactions.
Right now, we don’t have enough research to know if Red 40 causes serious health risks. The FDA maintains that the food dye is safe in small amounts.
Table of contents
Think about some of your favorite snacks from childhood. Maybe your list of go-tos included colorful slushies, push-up pops, gummies, pudding cups, and pouches of fruit punch. There’s something that all of these seemingly different treats share in common: Many are made with artificial colors.
If you ever wondered why a cherry-flavored popsicle would temporarily stain your tongue red, while a real cherry wouldn’t even leave a trace, the answer is likely Red Dye 40.
What is Red Dye 40?
Red Dye 40 is an artificial color that’s added to processed foods, medications, and cosmetics. Red 40 is currently 1 of 9 color additives certified by the FDA. Three of these — Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 — account for 90% of all food dyes used in the U.S. In fact, a 2016 study suggests Red 40 is the most commonly used artificial food coloring in grocery items geared toward kids.
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Is Red 40 bad for you?
It’s not totally clear based on the current research. Some human studies show negative health effects, while others don’t. Or it’s hard to make definitive statements about the results based on the study’s design. To add to that, many studies are done on animals. So the results can’t be applied to humans directly.
But the Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that Red Dye 40 does raise health concerns. Here’s what we know so far.
Hyperactivity
One of the most common causes of concern is Red Dye 40’s potential association with hyperactivity in children. This led to a 2022 review by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to see if there was a link.
Researchers found that about a quarter of the studies they examined showed an association between Red 40 and hyperactivity. The researchers concluded that the FDA’s current standards for how much Red Dye 40 is safe are based on outdated data, and that the allowed amount is too high.
There’s no evidence supporting that Red Dye 40 causes attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It seems that the dye only affects children who are particularly sensitive to it, which is difficult to determine. But some caregivers and adults with ADHD choose to avoid Red Dye 40 to be safe.
Allergic reactions
Red 40 is among at least four food dyes (along with Blue 1, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) that can cause allergic reactions. These reactions are rare. And when they do occur, they’re usually mild. Anaphylaxis and other severe reactions are uncommon.
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Red dye isn’t the only food dye linked to ADHD symptoms. Here’s which artificial colors received a warning from the FDA.
Bladder cancer
A 2012 review reported that Red Dye 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 have all been found to be contaminated with carcinogens. Carcinogens are substances that may increase the risk of developing cancer. One of these carcinogens is benzidine, which has been linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Whether or not the small amounts of Red 40 allowed in foods by the FDA definitely lead to bladder cancer is unclear. But advocates are pushing for the FDA to consider the link more closely in light of a recent ban on FD&C Red No. 3.
In January 2025, the FDA banned Red No. 3 because of research linking it to thyroid cancer in rodents. The rodents were fed a very large amount of red dye, much more than a human would ever eat. And the way thyroid cancer develops in rats can’t happen in humans. But despite this, the FDA still banned Red Dye 3 because of the Delaney clause.
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The Delaney clause states that additives can’t be used in foods if they’ve been linked to cancer in humans or animals. It’s possible that advocates will call on the Delaney clause when they ask the FDA to re-evaluate the safety of Red Dye 40.
Foods that contain Red Dye 40
Many foods that are bright red contain Red Dye 40, including:
Breakfast cereals
Sodas and other soft drinks
Condiments
Puddings
Dairy products like ice cream, sherbet, flavored milks, and frozen yogurt
Baked goods
Chocolate candy and confections
Fruit juices
Fruit gummy snacks
Sports drinks
Energy drinks
Jello
Chewing gum
Several over-the-counter medications and vitamins also contain Red 40.
But you can’t rely on a food’s color to know whether or not it contains Red Dye 40. Not all food products that contain Red 40 are a shade of red. The only way to know for sure is to read the ingredients label.
What is Red 40 made from, and how is it regulated?
Color additives are primarily made from petroleum, or crude oil, a fossil fuel. Without getting too technical, scientists change the chemical structure of these raw materials to create a concentrated, water-soluble dye. Once the dyes are created, they’re “rigorously tested” to ensure that they don’t contain any traces of petroleum before they’re added to food products.
It’s the FDA’s job to ensure that color additives are used appropriately and safely.
Red Dye 40 has been more strictly regulated in other countries, including the United Kingdom. This is due to increasing concerns around other health issues, especially its potential behavioral effects on children.
What are some ways to avoid Red 40?
If you want to avoid Red 40 in your foods and other products, your best bet is to take a look at the ingredient label on food products. Keep in mind that the higher up the dye is on the ingredient list, the higher the concentration of it in the product.
Red Dye 40 may be listed under several names, including:
Red 40
Red 40 Lake
Allura Red AC
FD&C Red No. 40
FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake
Allura Red AC
CI Food Red 17
CI 16035
INS No. 129
E129
Fancy red
If you want to make colorful, homemade cupcakes and icing, there are several ways you can spruce up your sweet creations without using traditional food dyes like Red 40. For example, pigment from fruits and vegetables, like grapes and beets, can yield a red color. Some gel food colorants are also made with natural ingredients if you don’t want to worry about trying to create dye at home.
The bottom line
The research is a bit inconclusive when it comes to whether or not Red Dye 40 can be harmful to human health. But many believe the risk outweighs any potential benefit. If you choose to avoid Red Dye 40, make sure to check ingredient labels to see whether or not a food item contains it. Not all food items that contain Red Dye 40 have a red color.
Why trust our experts?
References
Batada, A., et al. (2016). Prevalence of artificial food colors in grocery store products marketed to children. Clinical Pediatrics.
California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. (2021). Potential neurobehavioral effects of synthetic food dyes in children.
European Food Safety Authority. (2015). Refined exposure assessment for Allura Red AC (E 129).
Feketea, G., et al. (2017). Common food colorants and allergic reactions in children: Myth or reality? Food Chemistry.
Food Standards Agency. (2024). Food additives.
Kobylewski, S., et al. (2010). Food dyes: A rainbow of risks. Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Kobylewski, S., et al. (2012). Toxicology of food dyes. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health.
Lehmkuhler, A. L., et al. (2020). Certified food dyes in over the counter medicines and supplements marketed for children and pregnant women. Food and Chemical Toxicology.
Miller, M. D., et al. (2022). Potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children: A review of the human and animal evidence. Environmental Health.
National Cancer Institute. (2022). Benzidine.
Rohrig, B. (2015). Eating with your eyes: The chemistry of food colorings. ChemMatters.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Color additive petition from Center for Science in the Public Interest, et al.; Request to revoke color additive listing for use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Color additives questions and answers for consumers.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025). FDA to revoke authorization for the use of Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs.
