Yellow 5 / Tartrazine
The question

Is Yellow 5 / Tartrazine safe in candy?

CautionCandy

A synthetic azo dye that causes more allergic reactions than any other certified food color — affecting an estimated 360,000 Americans (< 0.12% population). The FDA and Canada require disclosure on labels. Particularly problematic for asthmatics and people with aspirin intolerance. Some studies link it to hyperactivity in children.

What the research flags

  • Highest allergenicity of all certified food dyes — including hives and asthma attacks
  • Cross-reactive with aspirin in aspirin-intolerant individuals
  • Linked to hyperactivity in children — EU warning label required
  • Banned in Norway and Austria

Regulatory
EU requires behavioral warning label on food products containing this dye

Other candy ingredients on file

Sources & references

  1. [1]
    Peer-reviewedPubMed / NCBI — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · ref 17825405
  2. [2]
    RegulatoryUS federal agency — color-additives-history
  3. [3]
    Newscspi.org

Research disclaimer: Ratings reflect peer-reviewed research and regulatory assessments available at the time of publication, not the dose or formulation of any specific candy product. This is not medical advice.