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
| Country | Status | Action | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | Warning label required | EU Regulation EC 1333/2008 | 2010 |
| United Kingdom | Warning label required | UK Food Safety Act retained EU law | 2010 |
| Norway | Previously banned | Banned before EU accession; EU law now applies | Pre-2000 |
| Switzerland | Not approved for many uses | Swiss food law | Ongoing |
| Austria | Voluntary phase-out | Government and industry agreement | 2007 |
| Japan | Not in approved list | Japan positive list of permitted dyes | Pre-2000 |
| United States | Permitted (GRAS) | FDA declined to require warning | Current |
Why Did the US FDA Not Require the Same Warning?
The FDA convened its Food Advisory Committee in 2011 to review the same evidence. The committee voted 8-6 that current evidence did not establish that dyes cause ADHD. The FDA concluded that a causal relationship between exposure to color additives and hyperactivity had not been established. The CSPI has petitioned the FDA to ban food dyes since 2008.
What Foods Contain Red 40 in the US?
- Skittles Original (US formula has Red 40; UK formula uses elderberry and radish)
- M&Ms Original (Red 40 Lake; EU formula uses carmine and beetroot)
- Doritos Nacho Cheese (UK formula uses paprika extract)
- Froot Loops (UK/EU formula uses natural colorants)
- Lucky Charms (EU formula uses carrot, beetroot, spirulina, curcumin)
- Pop-Tarts Strawberry (UK formula uses anthocyanins)
- Goldfish Colors crackers
- Starburst
- Many children cough syrups and medications
The 2025-2026 Momentum Toward a US Ban
The FDA banned Red Dye 3 in January 2025 after 35 years of delay. RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary has publicly targeted synthetic food dyes as a priority. The California Food Safety Act (effective 2027) establishes precedent for state-level action. Multiple advocacy groups including CSPI (https://www.cspinet.org) and EWG (https://www.ewg.org) have called for FDA action.