Artificial Colors

Artificial food colors are synthetic dyes produced from petroleum-derived chemical compounds, used to add vibrant, consistent color to processed food products. The FDA currently certifies nine synthetic color additives for food use, including FD&C Red No. 40 (Allura Red), FD&C Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine), FD&C Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow), FD&C Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue), and FD&C Blue No. 2 (Indigotine). In the NOVA food classification system, artificial colors are identified as one of the defining food additives of ultra-processed foods. These dyes provide intense, uniform coloring that remains stable across a wide range of processing conditions, pH levels, and storage times — properties that natural colorants often cannot match.

Artificial colors are found in candy, soft drinks, sports drinks, flavored snacks, breakfast cereals, frosting, ice cream, popsicles, flavored yogurt, cake mixes, gelatin desserts, macaroni and cheese, pickles, and many brightly colored processed food products.

Level (high → low)Level (low → high)Name (A–Z)Name (Z–A)

AllL1L2L3L4

Wilderness Pie Filling & Topping

8.34.0/10

Dean's, Country Fresh, Premium Ice Cream, Rasberry

8.33.0/10

Valued Naturals, Wasabi Peas

8.36.0/10

Duncan Hines, Comstock, Berry Patch Strawberry Pie Filling & Topping, Original

8.34.0/10

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Duncan Hines, Comstock, Pie Filling & Topping, Cherry

8.33.0/10

Bryan, Chicken & Pork Wieners

8.33.5/10

Smoked Sausage Hot Links

8.30.0/10

Caldo De Camaron

8.30.0/10

Vegetable & Grain Protein Big Franks Links

Worthington

8.29.0/10

Sour Watermelon Wedges, Sour Watermelon

8.13.0/10

Berries Blast Soft Fruit Chews Gummies, Berries Blast

8.14.0/10

Sour Citrus Soft Fruit Gummies Chews, Sour Citrus

8.14.0/10

Sour Citrus Fruit Bites Soft Fruit Chews, Sour Citrus

Sunkist

8.13.0/10

Berries Blast Fruit Bites

Sunkist

8.13.0/10

Mixed Fruit Snacks, Mixed Fruit

Sunkist

8.13.0/10

Old Fashioned Hard Candies, Watermelon

5.32.5/10

Old Fashioned Hard Candies, Peppermint

5.32.5/10

Old Fashioned Hard Candies, Raspberry

5.32.5/10

Starlight Mints Hard Candy, Starlight Mints

5.32.0/10

Peppermint Flavored Starlight Mints Hard Candy, Peppermint

5.32.0/10

Peppermint Starlight Mints Flavored Hard Candy, Peppermint Starlight Mints

5.32.0/10

Starlight Mints Hard Candy

Meijer

5.32.0/10

Starlights Candy

Signature Select

5.32.0/10

Starlight Peppermints Hard Candies, Starlight Peppermints

First Street

5.32.0/10

Starlight Mints

Sweet Smiles

5.32.0/10

Starlight Mints Hard Candy

Market Pantry

5.32.5/10

Starlight Mints Candy, Starlight Mints

Hill Country Fare

5.32.5/10

Minty Starlight Peppermints, Minty

Big Win

5.32.0/10

Starlight Peppermints Flavored Candy, Starlight Peppermints

Sathers

5.32.0/10

Starlight Mints Candy, Starlight Mints

Sweet Smiles

5.32.0/10

Por Kwan, Chilli Paste with Holy Basil Leaves

4.07.5/10

Palm Island Premium, Black Lava Sea Salt

4.03.0/10

Mango Con Chamoy

4.00.0/10

Snacks

La Isla Snacks

4.04.0/10

100% Natural Raw Multi Flower Honey

Kauma

4.05.0/10

Strawberry Jam, Strawberry

Beef House

4.02.5/10

Sweet Chili Sauce for Chicken, Sweet Chili

Mw Polar

3.80.0/10

Soft Peppermint Sticks

3.52.0/10

Soft Peppermint Sticks, Peppermint

King Leo

3.52.0/10

Peppermint Soft Sticks, Peppermint

King Leo

3.52.0/10

Old-Fashioned Soft Mint, Old-Fashioned

Jesus

3.52.0/10

Chow Mein Stir-Fry Noodles

Wel-Pac

3.57.0/10

Foco, Thai Tea Drink

3.05.0/10

Vanilla Custard Powder, Vanilla

3.05.0/10

Coloring & Seasoning Condiment

Bijol

3.03.0/10

Pantai, Thai Tea Mix

2.00.0/10

Authentic Thai Ice Tea

2.00.0/10

Candy Shop Decors

2.02.5/10

Candy Shop Decors

Betty Crocker

2.02.5/10

Pink Pastel Sanding Sugar, Pink Pastel

India Tree

2.02.0/10

Sanding Sugar, Pink Pastel

India Tree

2.02.0/10

Candy Shop Decors, Pink Rock Candy

Betty Crocker

2.02.5/10

Hot Pink Sparkling Sugar, Hot Pink

India Tree

2.00.0/10

Sparkling Sugar, Hot Pink

India Tree

2.02.0/10

4th & Heart, Ghee Butter, Grass- Fed, White Truffle Salt, 9 Oz (225 G) Checkoutarrow

4th Heart

2.00.0/10

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Artificial Colors can appear in ingredient lists under several names. If you see any of the following, this is the ingredient family you are looking at:

Artificial colors provide bright, consistent, and stable coloring to food products. They compensate for color loss during processing and storage, enhance the visual appeal of products, ensure batch-to-batch color consistency in mass production, and create colors (particularly bright blues, greens, and purples) that are difficult or impossible to achieve with natural alternatives. The intensity and stability of synthetic dyes allow very small amounts to produce vivid colors, making them cost-effective for manufacturers. They are particularly valued in products that undergo heat processing or have long shelf lives.

Artificial food colors are synthesized from petroleum-derived aromatic hydrocarbons through multi-step chemical reactions. Each certified color additive has a specific chemical structure and synthesis pathway. The dyes are manufactured in chemical plants, then purified and tested to meet FDA specifications for purity, including limits on heavy metals and unreacted intermediates. Each batch must be submitted to the FDA for certification testing before it can be used in food products — a requirement unique to synthetic color additives among food ingredients.

FD&C Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine) is required to be specifically identified on food labels because it may cause allergic-type reactions in certain susceptible individuals. Research has examined potential associations between synthetic food dyes and behavioral effects in children, with the EU requiring warning labels on products containing six specific dyes. The FDA conducted a review of this research and concluded that a causal relationship had not been established in the general population. Each certified color additive has been reviewed by the FDA for its intended uses.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Artificial food colors require FDA certification — each manufactured batch must be tested and certified before use in food. They must be listed on ingredient labels by their FD&C names or common names. The EU requires specific E-numbers and, for six dyes, a warning label stating "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." Several synthetic dyes approved in the US are not permitted in the EU, and vice versa. Some US states have enacted or proposed additional labeling requirements for products containing synthetic food dyes.