Artificial Color Yellow #5

Yellow #5, also known as Tartrazine, is a synthetic food coloring. It is a bright yellow dye produced from petroleum.

Manufacturers add Yellow #5 to foods to give them a yellow color or to enhance existing colors. It is commonly found in candies, ice cream, chips, and snacks.

Yellow #5 is an FDA-approved food additive. Some studies have suggested a link between synthetic food dyes, including Yellow #5, and hyperactivity in some children; however, evidence remains mixed, and not all studies have found a consistent link. JECFA (the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) has evaluated Yellow #5 and set an acceptable daily intake. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has also evaluated it. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, which includes Yellow #5.