On the go? Download our Mobile App

TITLE
share
food categories menu
site menu
 
Learn more
 

Artificial Yellow Color

Artificial Yellow Color
Title info loading....

Overall Artificial Yellow Color is of moderate concern in food.

The overall ingredient concern is determined by using a weight of evidence evaluation of the known safety or hazards. In calculating an overall ingredient score multiple findings of low concern may lead to an overall moderate concern rating, or multiple moderate concerns may lead to a high concern rating. For more details read EWG's ingredient concern methodology.

Specific concerns for Artificial Yellow Color

Concern
 
 
Source
Synthetic food dyes are associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in children.
 
2021. Potential Neurobehavioral Effects of Synthetic Food Dyes in Children. California Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
Synthetic food dyes are associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in children.
 
2021. Potential Neurobehavioral Effects of Synthetic Food Dyes in Children. California Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
EFSA finds that there is "limited evidence" that Yellow 5 in a mixture with other synthetic colours and sodium benzoate has a "small and statistically significant effect on activity and attention in children selected from the general population."
 
European Food Safety Authority. 2009. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation Tartrazine (E 102). EFSA Journal 7(11), 1331.
European Food Safety Authority reviewed study of children ingesting food colorings and concluded that it provided "limited evidence" that the mixture had a small and statistically significant effect on activity and attention in children.
 
European Food Safety Authority & Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Food Contact Materials (AFC). 2008. Assessment of the results of the study by McCann et al. (2007) on the effect of some colours and sodium benzoate on children’s behaviour, Question No EFSA-Q-2007-171. EFSA Journall 660, 1.
EFSA finds that there is "limited evidence" that Yellow 5 in a mixture with other synthetic colours and sodium benzoate has a "small and statistically significant effect on activity and attention in children selected from the general population."
 
European Food Safety Authority. 2009. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation Tartrazine (E 102). EFSA Journal 7(11), 1331.
European Food Safety Authority reviewed study of children ingesting food colorings and concluded that it provided "limited evidence" that the mixture had a small and statistically significant effect on activity and attention in children.
 
European Food Safety Authority & Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Food Contact Materials (AFC). 2008. Assessment of the results of the study by McCann et al. (2007) on the effect of some colours and sodium benzoate on children’s behaviour, Question No EFSA-Q-2007-171. EFSA Journall 660, 1.
Review article concluded that chemical can cause hyperactivity in children.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Kobylewski, S. & Jacobson, M.F. 2012. Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health 18(3), 220-46.
Review article concluded that chemical can cause hyperactivity in children.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Kobylewski, S. & Jacobson, M.F. 2012. Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health 18(3), 220-46.
The European Food Safety Authority concluded that this substance had the potential to impact testicular health.
 
European Food Safety Authority. 2009. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Sunset Yellow FCF (E 110) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 7(11), 1330.
EFSA concludes there is limited evidence that Yellow 6 in a mixture with other synthetic colours and sodium benzoate has a "small and statistically significant effect on activity and attention in children selected from the general population"
 
European Food Safety Authority. 2009. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Sunset Yellow FCF (E 110) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 7(11), 1330.
EFSA concludes that some sensitive individuals may experience allergic reactions at dose levels within the ADI.
 
European Food Safety Authority. 2009. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation Tartrazine (E 102). EFSA Journal 7(11), 1331.
EFSA concludes that some sensitive individuals may experience allergic reactions at dose levels within the ADI.
 
European Food Safety Authority. 2009. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation Tartrazine (E 102). EFSA Journal 7(11), 1331.
A review article reports mixed evidence of genotoxicity.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Amchova, P., H. Kotolova & J. Ruda-Kucerova. 2015. Health safety issues of synthetic food colorants. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP 73(3), 914-22.
A review article reports evidence of impacts on male gonads in rats.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Amchova, P., H. Kotolova & J. Ruda-Kucerova. 2015. Health safety issues of synthetic food colorants. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP 73(3), 914-22.
A peer-reviewed study reports this substance shows estrogenic activity in a human cell line.
 
Andrew Axon, Felicity E. B. May, Luke E. Gaughan, Faith M. Williams, Peter G. Blain & Matthew C. Wright. 2012. Tartrazine and sunset yellow are xenoestrogens in a new screening assay to identify modulators of human oestrogen receptor transcriptional activity. Toxicology 298(1-3), 40-51.
A review article reports mixed evidence of genotoxicity.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Amchova, P., H. Kotolova & J. Ruda-Kucerova. 2015. Health safety issues of synthetic food colorants. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP 73(3), 914-22.
A review article reports evidence of impacts on male gonads in rats.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Amchova, P., H. Kotolova & J. Ruda-Kucerova. 2015. Health safety issues of synthetic food colorants. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP 73(3), 914-22.
A peer-reviewed study reports this substance shows estrogenic activity in a human cell line.
 
Andrew Axon, Felicity E. B. May, Luke E. Gaughan, Faith M. Williams, Peter G. Blain & Matthew C. Wright. 2012. Tartrazine and sunset yellow are xenoestrogens in a new screening assay to identify modulators of human oestrogen receptor transcriptional activity. Toxicology 298(1-3), 40-51.
A review article conclused that this substance may be carcinogenic at high or cumulative exposures, which are unlikely to occur.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Amchova, P., H. Kotolova & J. Ruda-Kucerova. 2015. Health safety issues of synthetic food colorants. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP 73(3), 914-22.
A peer-reviewed study reports this substance shows estrogenic activity in a human cell line.
 
Andrew Axon, Felicity E. B. May, Luke E. Gaughan, Faith M. Williams, Peter G. Blain & Matthew C. Wright. 2012. Tartrazine and sunset yellow are xenoestrogens in a new screening assay to identify modulators of human oestrogen receptor transcriptional activity. Toxicology 298(1-3), 40-51.
Ingestion of tartrazine was associated with behavioral changes in irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbance in some children.
 
K. S. Rowe & K. J. Rowe. 1994. Synthetic food coloring and behavior: a dose response effect in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures study. The Journal of pediatrics 125(5 Pt 1), 691-8.
Eating a mix of artificial colors with sodium benzoate result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.
 
Donna McCann, Angelina Barrett, Alison Cooper, Debbie Crumpler, Lindy Dalen, Kate Grimshaw, Elizabeth Kitchin, Kris Lok, Lucy Porteous, Emily Prince, Edmund Sonuga-Barke, John O. Warner & Jim Stevenson. 2007. Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 370(9598), 1560-7.
A review article conclused that this substance may be carcinogenic at high or cumulative exposures, which are unlikely to occur.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Amchova, P., H. Kotolova & J. Ruda-Kucerova. 2015. Health safety issues of synthetic food colorants. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP 73(3), 914-22.
A peer-reviewed study reports this substance shows estrogenic activity in a human cell line.
 
Andrew Axon, Felicity E. B. May, Luke E. Gaughan, Faith M. Williams, Peter G. Blain & Matthew C. Wright. 2012. Tartrazine and sunset yellow are xenoestrogens in a new screening assay to identify modulators of human oestrogen receptor transcriptional activity. Toxicology 298(1-3), 40-51.
Ingestion of tartrazine was associated with behavioral changes in irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbance in some children.
 
K. S. Rowe & K. J. Rowe. 1994. Synthetic food coloring and behavior: a dose response effect in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures study. The Journal of pediatrics 125(5 Pt 1), 691-8.
Eating a mix of artificial colors with sodium benzoate result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.
 
Donna McCann, Angelina Barrett, Alison Cooper, Debbie Crumpler, Lindy Dalen, Kate Grimshaw, Elizabeth Kitchin, Kris Lok, Lucy Porteous, Emily Prince, Edmund Sonuga-Barke, John O. Warner & Jim Stevenson. 2007. Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 370(9598), 1560-7.
EFSA concludes that some sensitive individuals may experience allergic reactions at dose levels within the ADI.
 
European Food Safety Authority. 2009. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Sunset Yellow FCF (E 110) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 7(11), 1330.
Review article concluded that chemical caused hypersensitivity reactions.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Kobylewski, S. & Jacobson, M.F. 2012. Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health 18(3), 220-46.
Review article concluded that chemical caused hypersensitivity reactions.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Kobylewski, S. & Jacobson, M.F. 2012. Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health 18(3), 220-46.
Review article concluded that chemical caused hypersensitivity reactions.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Kobylewski, S. & Jacobson, M.F. 2012. Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health 18(3), 220-46.
Review article concluded that chemical caused hypersensitivity reactions.
 
Peer Reviewed Literature: Kobylewski, S. & Jacobson, M.F. 2012. Toxicology of food dyes. International journal of occupational and environmental health 18(3), 220-46.
Reduced pup bodyweight at 750 mg/kg-day and higher.
 
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). 2012. Safety evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants, WHO Food Additives Series: 65. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser.
A peer-reviewed study found that this substance caused neurobehavioral effects in animals at high doses.
 
Kamel, M.M. & El-lethey, H.S. 2011. The Potential Health Hazard of Tartrazine and Levels of Hyperactivity, Anxiety-Like Symptoms, Depression and Anti-social behaviour in Rats. Journal of American Science 7(6), 1211-8.
A peer-reviewed study found that this substance caused neurobehavioral effects in animals at high doses.
 
Toyohito Tanaka. 2006. Reproductive and neurobehavioural toxicity study of tartrazine administered to mice in the diet. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association 44(2), 179-87.
A peer-reviewed study found that this substance caused neurobehavioral effects in animals at high doses.
 
Toyohito Tanaka, Osamu Takahashi, Shinshi Oishi & Akio Ogata. 2008. Effects of tartrazine on exploratory behavior in a three-generation toxicity study in mice. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) 26(2), 156-63.
A peer-reviewed study found that this substance caused neurobehavioral effects in animals at high doses.
 
Toyohito Tanaka. 2006. Reproductive and neurobehavioural toxicity study of tartrazine administered to mice in the diet. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association 44(2), 179-87.
A peer-reviewed study found that this substance caused neurobehavioral effects in animals at high doses.
 
Toyohito Tanaka, Osamu Takahashi, Shinshi Oishi & Akio Ogata. 2008. Effects of tartrazine on exploratory behavior in a three-generation toxicity study in mice. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) 26(2), 156-63.
A peer-reviewed study found that this substance caused neurobehavioral effects in animals at high doses.
 
Kamel, M.M. & El-lethey, H.S. 2011. The Potential Health Hazard of Tartrazine and Levels of Hyperactivity, Anxiety-Like Symptoms, Depression and Anti-social behaviour in Rats. Journal of American Science 7(6), 1211-8.
Allergic reactions have been reported in humans.
 
European Commission, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). 2004. OPINION OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON COSMETIC PRODUCTS AND NON-FOOD PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR CONSUMERS Concerning Acid Yellow 23. SCCNFP/0786/04.
Allergic reactions have been reported in humans.
 
European Commission, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). 2004. OPINION OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON COSMETIC PRODUCTS AND NON-FOOD PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR CONSUMERS Concerning Acid Yellow 23. SCCNFP/0786/04.
NTP Toxcast scored 1.5-2.5
 
National Toxicology Program (NTP): EWG Toxcast Analysis
NTP Toxcast scored 1.5-2.5
 
National Toxicology Program (NTP): EWG Toxcast Analysis
NTP Toxcast scored 1.5-2.5
 
National Toxicology Program (NTP): EWG Toxcast Analysis
NTP Toxcast scored 1.5-2.5
 
National Toxicology Program (NTP): EWG Toxcast Analysis
Developmental neurotoxicity observed in chicken embryos.
 
Aysegul Ozdemir Ovalioglu, Talat Cem Ovalioglu, Gokhan Canaz, Aysegul Esen Aydin, Sema Arslan, Mehmet Sar & Erhan Emel. 2020. Effects of Tartrazine on Neural Tube Development in the Early Stage of Chicken Embryos. Turkish neurosurgery 30(4), 583-587.

Concerns from impurities

Concern
 
 
Source
Impurity: CADMIUM
Suspected of causing genetic defects
 
EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
Impurity: CADMIUM
May cause cancer
 
EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
Impurity: CADMIUM
Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure
 
EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
Impurity: CADMIUM
Suspected of damaging fertility.
 
EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
Impurity: CADMIUM
Suspected of damaging the unborn child.
 
EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
Impurity: CADMIUM
Carcinogenic to humans
 
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Agents classified by the IARC Monographs (through Volume 127)
Impurity: CADMIUM
Known To Be Human Carcinogen
 
National Toxicology Program (NTP): NTP 14th Report on Carcinogens
Impurity: BIPHENYL-2-YLAMINE
Suspected of causing cancer
 
EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
Impurity: CADMIUM
Probably carcinogenic to humans
 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) - Cancer
 

eat well guide

find sustainable food!

The Eat Well Guide helps consumers find locally grown and sustainably produced food. Listings include farms, restaurants, stores, farmers' markets, and CSAs throughout the United States.

Visit the Eat Well Guide

Information

Food Categories:

Search:

Share:

Want more food tips?

Sign up to receive email updates, action alerts, healthy eating tips, promotions to support our work and more from EWG! You can opt out at any time.

Select one:

Consumer Contact Form:

EWG reserves the right to make public any information provided to it by companies. I understand that EWG does not accept any confidential or trade secret information that EWG does not have permission to share publicly. If I am contacting EWG on behalf of a company, by clicking "submit," I affirm that I have the authority to contact EWG on my company's behalf and to provide EWG permission to publicly disseminate all information provided.

Company Contact Form:

I would like to update my product's:







Other inquiries:








EWG reserves the right to make public any information provided to it by companies. I understand that EWG does not accept any confidential or trade secret information that EWG does not have permission to share publicly. If I am contacting EWG on behalf of a company, by clicking "submit," I affirm that I have the authority to contact EWG on my company's behalf and to provide EWG permission to publicly disseminate all information provided.

Get the Guide