Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)
Medium ConcernAlso known as
The concern
Southampton Six dye linked to hyperactivity in children. EFSA requires a "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children" warning in the EU. Cross-reactive in aspirin-sensitive individuals.
What to look for on labels
This ingredient may appear under any of the following names or codes on product labels:
- Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)
- yellow 5
- tartrazine
- e102
- fd&c yellow no. 5
- fd&c yellow 5
Commonly found in
Sweets, soft drinks, cereals, ice cream, sauces, confectionery
Other artificial colours to know about
Red 3 (Erythrosine)
HIGHFDA banned Red 3 in food and ingested drugs in January 2025 after studies showed it causes thyroid tumours in male rats.
Red 40 (Allura Red)
MEDIUMOne of the "Southampton Six" food dyes.
Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow)
MEDIUMSouthampton Six dye.
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)
LOWEWG flags concern over data gaps in safety studies.
Data sourced from IARC, FDA, EFSA, WHO and EWG public data. For informational purposes only. This does not constitute medical or legal advice.