Cheetos ingredients: what's banned overseas?

About Cheetos

Cheetos in the US are colored with Yellow 6 (sunset yellow) and Yellow 5 (tartrazine). The UK equivalent product (Wotsits, also made by Walkers/PepsiCo) uses paprika extract and annatto for the orange color and carries no artificial dye warning label. Flamin' Hot Cheetos add Red 40 to the dye combination. The US product's synthetic dye profile represents a direct example of the reformulation possible for the same snack concept.

Common concerns with Cheetos products

{"ingredient_slug":"yellow-dye-6","ingredient_name":"Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)","found_in_product":"Cheetos Puffs, Cheetos Crunchy (US)","concern":"EU/UK: 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' warning label required. UK Wotsits use paprika extract instead."}; {"ingredient_slug":"yellow-dye-5","ingredient_name":"Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)","found_in_product":"Cheetos (some varieties, US)","concern":"EU/UK hyperactivity warning. Not present in UK equivalent products."}; {"ingredient_slug":"red-dye-40","ingredient_name":"Red 40","found_in_product":"Flamin' Hot Cheetos (US)","concern":"EU/UK hyperactivity warning; FDA phase-out announced April 2025."}