My diet:

E110 Sunset Yellow FCF (Yellow 6)

E110ColorsOrigin: Lab-made
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Every diet

VeganYes

Contains no animal ingredients. Some vegans avoid it because it has been tested on animals.

Gluten-freeYes
HalalYes
KosherYes
KetoYes
Low-FODMAPYes
The short answer
Yellow 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 avoid

Controversial, restricted or banned somewhere.

E-numberE110
Comes fromLab-made
What it doesColors
Glycemic index—
Daily limit4 mg/kg
Also calledYellow 6, Yellow No. 6

Find snacks without Yellow 6

Clean-label swaps
Clean grocery swap

Dye-free cheese crackers

Orange from paprika and annatto instead of synthetic dyes.

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Clean substitute

Natural food coloring kit (plant-based)

Beet, spirulina and turmeric colors for home baking.

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Kids' swap

Dye-free kids' snacks

Fruit snacks and candy colored with fruit and vegetable juice.

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Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDAApproved with limits
🇪🇺 European UnionWarning label required
🇨🇦 Health CanadaApproved with limits
CaliforniaRestrictedBanned in California public school food from 2028 (School Food Safety Act, AB 2316)

Legal in the US, EU and Canada, but the EU requires a warning on the package: "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." EFSA set a daily limit of 4 mg per kg of body weight in 2014. In 2025 the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based dyes, relying mostly on voluntary action by food companies.

How much is too much? (Acceptable Daily Intake)

280 mgper day is the safe upper limit

Based on 4 mg per kg of body weight (EFSA / JECFA). A 20 kg (44 lb) child: 80 mg a day.

What is it?

Sunset Yellow FCF is an orange-yellow dye and one of the three most-used synthetic food colors in the US, alongside Red 40 and Yellow 5. It gives cheese snacks, orange soda and candy their bright orange.

Where it comes from: A synthetic orange-yellow azo dye made from petroleum-derived chemicals. Each US batch is tested and certified by the FDA before it can be sold.

Why it’s in food

  • Makes snacks, drinks and candy bright orange
  • Combines with other dyes for custom shades
  • Keeps color consistent between batches

Often found in

Cheese puffs and crackersOrange sodaCandyBoxed mac and cheeseGelatin dessertsBaked goods

Also listed as: Yellow 6, Yellow No. 6, FD&C Yellow 6, Yellow 6 Lake, Sunset yellow, Orange Yellow S

Health & gut impact

Hyperactivity in childrenUnder study

Included in the dye mixes in the 2007 Southampton study, which found increased hyperactivity in some children.

McCann et al., The Lancet (2007)

Allergic reactionsUnder study

Rare reactions like hives have been reported in sensitive people.

EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2009)

CancerConcern

Current evidence does not show it causes cancer at normal intakes.

EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2014)

What can I use instead?

Paprika

Ratio: To taste

Best for: Cheese snacks and seasonings

Annatto

Ratio: To taste

Best for: Cheese sauces and crackers

Beta-carotene

Ratio: To taste

Best for: Drinks and baked goods

Related

More colors:

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 avoidBeetroot Red (Betanin) E162Beetroot red (E162) is a natural red color made from beets, and it's one of the safest colors you'll find on a label. It's the most common swap for Red 40, though it fades with heat and light.Generally safeBeta-Carotene E160aBeta-carotene (E160a) is the orange pigment in carrots, and it's safe as a food color. Your body turns some of it into vitamin A. High-dose supplements raised lung cancer risk in smokers, but food coloring amounts are far smaller.Generally safeBrilliant 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 avoid

Common questions

Is Yellow 6 safe?

Best to avoid (38/100). Legal in the US, EU and Canada, but the EU requires a warning on the package: "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." EFSA set a daily limit of 4 mg per kg of body weight in 2014. In 2025 the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based dyes, relying mostly on voluntary action by food companies.

Is Yellow 6 vegan?

Yes. Contains no animal ingredients. Some vegans avoid it because it has been tested on animals.

Is Yellow 6 gluten-free?

Yes.

Is Yellow 6 banned in Europe?

No. It's allowed in the EU as E110, but packages must carry a warning that it may affect activity and attention in children.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • 21 CFR 74.706 (US FDA)
  • EFSA OpenFoodTox: E110
  • McCann et al., The Lancet (2007)
  • EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2009)
  • EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2014)

Last checked against FDA, EFSA and Health Canada records: October 31, 2026 · INS 110 · CAS 2783-94-0