Explainer: Why is the US eliminating synthetic food dyes? | Business

Synthetic food dyes
	Class	US name	E number	UK/EU status	US status
Erythrosine	Fluorone, red/pink	Red 3	E127	Limited specific food and cosmetic uses	Banned January 2025
Citrus Red 2	Azo dye, red/orange	Citrus Red 2	E121	Banned	Being withdrawn
Orange B	Azo dye, orange	Orange B		Never approved	Being withdrawn
Fast Green FCF	Triarylmethane, turquoise/green	Green 3	E143	Banned	Voluntary elimination
Allura Red AC	Azo dye, red	Red 40	E129	Warning required	Voluntary elimination
Tartrazine	Azo dye, yellow	Yellow 5	E102	Warning required	Voluntary elimination
Sunset Yellow FCF	Azo dye, yellow	Yellow 6	E110	Warning required	Voluntary elimination
Brilliant blue FCF	Triarylmethane, blue	Blue 1	E133	Approved in food/cosmetics	Voluntary elimination
Indigo carmine	Synthetic derivative based on plant extract, blue	Blue 2	E132	Approved in food/cosmetics	Voluntary elimination
Azorubine/Carmoisine	Azo dye, red	Red 10	E122	Warning required	Not used in food, withdrawn from cosmetic use
Ponceau 4R/ Cochineal red A	Azo dye, red		E124	Warning required	Not approved
Quinoline Yellow WS	Quinophthalone (yellow/green)	Yellow 10	E104	Warning required	Not permitted in food, allowed in cosmetics
Red 2G	Azo dye, red		E128	Withdrawn 2007	Never approved