Ingredient Information

Function

Yellow 6 is a food coloring used to improve the visual appearance of certain foods. Companies usually use food coloring to match the flavor of their product with a color that is associated with that food. As an example, lemonade producers may choose to add a yellow coloring to their product to create a lemon-like appearance. Yellow 6, though considered a yellow food coloring, is more orange in color. Food colorings are also added to make foods appear fresher, or just to create a fun appearance for children’s products. Food colorings serve no functional purpose and are used only for aesthetic purposes. Food coloring is most often found in snacks, sweets and beverages. The use of this food colorant is banned in Norway and Finland.

Yellow 6 is also known as SUNSET YELLOW FCF, E110, C.I.15985, Orange yellow S, Food yellow 3.

Other Use and Industries

Yellow 6 is approved for use in the drug and cosmetic industry. Other industries, such as plastic and paint, use less expensive colorants that do not need to be approved as food-grade by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Health Effects

Food colorants don’t provide beneficial health effects or nutrients. They are intended to enhance the physical appeal of foods and beverages. The safeness of synthetic food dyes is always being disputed. Some countries consider it safe while others do not.

Yellow 6 has been reported to cause allergies and hypersensitivity reactions. There is also concern that it may contribute to hyperactivity in children. The link between food colorings and hyperactivity is unclear. Many foods that have food colorings are also low in nutrients and high in calories which can contribute to nutrient deficiencies. These deficiencies can also be responsible for hyperactivity or inattentiveness. Finally, there is some concern that Yellow 6 may be contaminated with cancer-causing substances. Some studies have shown that this dye can cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors in animals. Because foods with coloring have no nutritional substance, it is recommended that consumers reduce or eliminate consumption of artificially colored products.

Yellow sunset FCF may cause allergic reactions like other azo dyes, and these hypersensitivity episodes may include rhinitis, urticaria, nasal congestion and other forms of allergies or food intolerance (nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea). Azo dyes may cause or worsen hyperactivity disorders in children and this is why their daily intake has been decreased in some countries. Sunset yellow FCF may cause the loss of taste (distaste) for food. There is some evidence that children with hyperactivity and those with asthma may be more prone to a hypersensitivity reaction than other consumers. This reaction may be allergy-like in nature. Allergies can develop at any time. Previous ability to consume yellow 6 does not necessarily imply that there will never be a problem, though reported allergies are rare. Other adverse health effects have not been entirely substantiated, but should be considered when choosing between artificially colored and naturally colored foods.

Origins

Yellow 6 is made synthetically from petroleum through a series of chemical reactions. The color is purified before use so that there is no residual petroleum. Labels with food colorings may also say Yellow #6 Lake. Lake colorings have been combined with ammonium hydroxide (sold commercially as an antacid) so that the color does not run when the food becomes wet. Sunset yellow FCF is an azo dye, and like other azo colorants, it is obtained from coal tar and can be synthesized from aromatic hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.