Red 40 contains no animal ingredients, but some vegans still avoid it
Contains no animal ingredients. Some vegans avoid it because it has been tested on animals.
The full answer
Allura Red AC (Red 40) is made from petroleum-derived chemicals. It contains no animal ingredients, which makes it technically vegan.
Some vegans avoid it anyway because synthetic dyes have been, and sometimes still are, tested on animals for safety approval.
Don't confuse it with carmine (E120), the other common red color, which is made from insects and is never vegan. Products labeled "natural color" may use carmine.
If you want a red color that's both plant-based and free of synthetic dyes, look for beet juice, paprika or lycopene.
What to look for on the label
- "Red 40" or "Allura Red" (synthetic, no animal ingredients)
- "Carmine" or "cochineal" (insect-based, not vegan)
- "Colored with beet juice" (plant-based)
Other diets
Find snacks without Red 40
Clean-label swapsDye-free kids' snacks
Fruit snacks and candy colored with fruit and vegetable juice.
Shop dye-free snacks Opens your country’s Amazon storeNatural food coloring kit (plant-based)
Beet, spirulina and turmeric colors for home baking.
Shop natural colors Opens your country’s Amazon storeDye-free sprinkles
Colored with vegetable juice instead of synthetic dyes.
Shop dye-free sprinkles Opens your country’s Amazon storeAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes our ratings.
Thrive Market: organic groceries with no artificial dyes or BHA.
Common questions
Is Red 40 made from bugs?
No. That's carmine (E120). Red 40 is synthetic.
Safety score, rules by country, health notes and swaps.