Red 40 (Allura Red)

Last reviewed October 18, 2026 · Evidence strength: Moderate · How we grade evidence

In plain words: Red 40 is a man-made red dye. It's the most common food dye in the US. Careful studies show that artificial dye mixes, including Red 40, can make some children a bit more hyperactive. It is not shown to cause cancer. If your child seems sensitive, dye-free swaps are easy to find.

Also listed on labels as: FD&C Red No. 40, Red 40 Lake, Allura Red AC, E129, artificial color

What is it, and why is it in food?

Red 40 is a synthetic color made from petroleum-based chemicals. It gives candy, drinks, snack cakes, cereals and frosting a bright red, pink or orange look. It does nothing for taste, nutrition or freshness. It's only there for looks. A "lake" (as in "Red 40 Lake") is the same dye bound to aluminum so it won't bleed. Lakes are used in coated candies and frosting.

What does the science say?

• What the research looks at: Most studies test a mix of dyes, not Red 40 by itself. Red 40 (called Allura Red in Europe) is one of the six colors named in the EU warning that came out of the UK research.¹
• The best trial: In a 2007 UK study, about 300 children drank juice with a mix of artificial colors plus the preservative sodium benzoate, or a look-alike placebo, without knowing which. On average, the colored drinks made both 3-year-olds and 8- to 9-year-olds a little more hyperactive. The effect was small, and because the preservative was in every test drink, the colors were not tested alone.²
• Pooling many studies: A 2012 review of the research found a small effect on parent-rated behavior. It shrank after correcting for studies that never got published, and it was not reliable in studies that used only US-approved colors. Teachers' ratings showed no clear effect, but the highest-quality studies did. The authors estimated food colors might play a part for about 8% of children with ADHD symptoms.³
• California's 2021 review: State scientists looked at 25 challenge trials. Sixteen found some link with behavior, and 13 of those were statistically significant. They said the safe-intake levels FDA set decades ago may not protect children who are sensitive.⁴
• Cancer: Research has not shown that the dyes still allowed in the US cause cancer at permitted levels. Red 3 is the exception, and that story is about a rat-only effect (see Red 3 (Erythrosine)).

What do regulators say?

• In April 2025, the US Department of Health and Human Services and FDA announced a plan to work with companies to remove petroleum-based dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2 and Green 3) from the food supply by the end of 2027.⁵ That phase-out is voluntary. As of October 2026 these dyes are still legal in US food.
• FDA revoked Orange B (effective September 8, 2026), and the remaining synthetic dyes are on FDA's list of chemicals under review.⁶
• In the European Union, foods with Red 40 (E129) must carry a warning: "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children."¹

Who should be careful?

• Children who seem sensitive. If you notice your child gets wound up or can't focus after brightly colored candy or drinks, a two- to three-week dye-free trial is low-risk and easy. Talk with your pediatrician, especially if your child has ADHD.
• Everyone else: there's no need to panic about an occasional colored treat. The effect in studies is small on average.

How common is it in US foods?

In our check of USDA's Branded Foods database, 37,465 of 439,966 US packaged foods with an ingredient list name Red 40 (about 8.5%, or roughly 1 in 12).⁷ It shows up most often in: candy (13,067); cakes, cupcakes, snack cakes (2,567); cookies & biscuits (2,350); ice cream & frozen yogurt (1,920); soda (1,681). That makes Red 40 the most common synthetic dye in our data. Store brands are big users: Favorite Day (Target), Meijer and Great Value (Walmart) top the list of brands with dyed products. These are label records companies sent to USDA, mostly in 2021 to 2023, so some products have changed since. Counts come from a text match of ingredient lists and are approximate.

Swaps and tips for families

• Look for "no artificial colors" or "colored with vegetable juice" on the package.
• Many brands already sell dye-free versions of fruit snacks, sports drinks, mac and cheese and cereal. Scan both and compare.
• For baking, color frosting with beet juice or freeze-dried strawberry or raspberry powder.
• Swap red sports drinks for water with a splash of 100% juice, or plain sparkling water with fruit.
• Watch party foods: red velvet cake, holiday candy and decorating gels are among the most heavily dyed.

Beyond the plate: related non-food exposures

The same certified dyes appear in many children's medicines, chewable vitamins, toothpaste and cosmetics. If your family is avoiding dyes, check those labels too, and ask your pharmacist about dye-free versions of medicines. Red 40 is one of the most common colors in kids' liquid medicines and chewable vitamins.

Frequently asked questions

Is Red 40 bad for kids?

For most kids, an occasional food with Red 40 is not a health risk. But careful trials show artificial dye mixes, which include Red 40, can make some children a little more hyperactive or less focused. If your child seems sensitive, cutting dyes is a simple experiment.

Does Red 40 cause cancer?

No good evidence shows that Red 40 causes cancer at the amounts allowed in food. The dye that was banned over cancer findings is Red 3, and FDA says that rat effect doesn't happen in people.

Is Red 40 banned in Europe?

No. Red 40 (E129) is allowed in the EU, but foods that contain it must carry a warning that it may affect activity and attention in children.

Is Red 40 being banned in the US?

Not banned yet. FDA asked companies to remove it and other petroleum-based dyes by the end of 2027, but that plan is voluntary. As of October 2026 it's still legal.

What can I use instead of Red 40?

Beet juice, beet powder, freeze-dried berries, paprika and annatto are common natural colors. Many brands already use them.

Related guides

• Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)
• Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow)
• Red 3 (Erythrosine)
• Sodium Benzoate
• Food dyes and colors

Sources

Every source below was checked against PubMed, the publisher or the official page by our research team in October 2026.

1. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, Annex V (colours that require the warning "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children"). Official Journal of the European Union (consolidated text), 2008. Link
2. Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet (London, England), 2007. PubMed 17825405 · doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61306-3
3. Meta-analysis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, restriction diet, and synthetic food color additives. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2012. PubMed 22176942 · doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2011.10.015
4. Potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children: a review of the human and animal evidence (California OEHHA). Environ Health, 2022. PubMed 35484553 · doi:10.1186/s12940-022-00849-9
5. HHS/FDA press release, April 22 2025. Link
6. FDA constituent update (Orange B). Link
7. FoodData Central, Branded Foods dataset (release 2026-04-30). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 2026. Link

This guide is for general education. It is not medical advice and does not replace advice from your doctor, pediatrician, allergist or registered dietitian. If you think you or your child reacted to a food, talk to a health professional. Research changes; we review these pages when new evidence or rules come out. Last reviewed October 18, 2026. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].