Is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow) safe? Where it's allowed and what it's in

Synthetic food dye · Also known as: Sunset Yellow FCF, FD&C Yellow No. 6, Yellow No. 6, Yellow 6 Lake, Orange Yellow S, E110, CI 15985, Food Yellow 3 · Reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · 23 sources

Where Yellow 6 is allowed

What is Yellow 6?

Yellow 6 is a man-made yellow dye, known chemically as Sunset Yellow FCF (or Orange Yellow S) and certified in the US as FD&C Yellow No. 6. Chemically it is an azo dye, and the FDA's regulation describes how it is made from 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid; the FDA says certifiable color additives are human-made and come primarily from petroleum and coal sources.

The US specification caps impurities, including benzidine at 1 part per billion and lead at 10 parts per million.

Why it's used, and where you'll find it

Yellow 6 gives foods, drinks, medicines and cosmetics a yellow color. HHS and the FDA say these petroleum-based dyes offer no nutritional benefit.

• breakfast cereal
• snack foods
• baked goods
• desserts and ice cream
• beverages and sauces
• some medicines and cosmetics

What the research and regulators say

What safety committees say about intake

In 2011 the international expert committee on food additives (JECFA) set an acceptable daily intake of 0 to 4 mg per kg of body weight, withdrew its earlier 0 to 2.5, and concluded that dietary exposure does not present a health concern. EFSA lowered its limit in 2009, setting a temporary 1 mg per kg and saying that exposure to this colour and two others could exceed the new limits. In 2014, in light of new data, it raised the limit to 4 mg per kg and said estimated exposure was well below it for all age groups. ^{[7, 8, 9]}

The study behind the EU warning

Sunset yellow was in both colour mixes (each with sodium benzoate) tested in the 2007 University of Southampton trial. Among 297 children, one mix (A) raised a hyperactivity score in the 3-year-olds; in the 8- and 9-year-olds both mixes did, but only in an analysis limited to children who drank at least 85% of their drinks. The effects were small, and the trial tested mixtures, not Yellow 6 alone. Germany's BfR called the effects limited, and in 2009 EFSA said the data, including this study, did not substantiate a causal link between individual colours and behavioural effects. ^{[6, 7, 10, 17]}

FDA view, intolerance and cancer questions

The FDA says most children have no adverse effects from color additives and some evidence suggests certain children may be sensitive; its 2011 advisory committee found no established causal link. The FDA's tracking page adds that HHS and FDA leaders say these dyes as a group may pose health risks, particularly to children, without citing Yellow 6-specific studies. EFSA said in 2009 that for sunset yellow the limited evidence allowed no firm conclusion on intolerance reactions. IARC lists Sunset Yellow FCF in Group 3, 'not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans' (Monographs Volume 8 and Supplement 7, evaluation year listed as 1987), meaning no conclusion could be drawn. ^{[1, 7, 11, 13, 14]}

Who might choose to avoid it

The sources reviewed do not single out a group that must avoid Yellow 6. Some parents whose children seem more restless after brightly colored foods choose to limit it.

How to spot it on a label

US labels say 'Yellow 6' or 'FD&C Yellow No. 6' (the aluminum form is 'Yellow 6 Lake'). In Canada it is 'sunset yellow FCF'. In the EU it is 'Sunset Yellow FCF' or 'E110'. On cosmetics it may appear as CI 15985.

Frequently asked questions

Related ingredients

• Red 40
• Yellow 5
• Blue 1
• Sodium benzoate

This page summarizes what regulators and published research say, as of the review date above. Rules and evidence change; check the linked sources for the latest. It is general information, not medical advice — talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your own health.