Red 40 vs the World: Why 6 Countries Banned It and the US Did Not

What Is Red Dye 40?

Red Dye 40 (Allura Red AC, FD&C Red No. 40, E129) is a petroleum-derived synthetic dye used for red and orange coloring. It was introduced in the US in 1971 as a replacement for Red Dye 2, which was banned for carcinogenicity concerns. It is currently the most-used food dye in the United States by volume.

The Southampton Study That Changed Everything

In 2007, the landmark McCann et al. study in The Lancet (doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61306-3) found statistically significant increases in hyperactivity in children who consumed a mixture of six synthetic food dyes including Red 40 and sodium benzoate. The EU required warning labels. The US FDA reviewed the same evidence and declined to act.

The EU Food Safety Authority re-evaluated all six dyes in 2009 and concluded the evidence was sufficient to require warning labels on EU products. Source: EFSA 2009 https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1328