Blue #1 And Yellow #5 Lake

Blue #1 Lake and Yellow #5 Lake are synthetic color additives. "Lakes" are pigments made by combining a water-soluble dye with an insoluble material, often aluminum hydroxide. This process makes the color stable in products with little moisture or fat, where water-soluble dyes might bleed. Blue #1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) provides a bright blue hue, while Yellow #5 (Tartrazine) provides a lemon-yellow color.

These lake colors are used to add or enhance color in a wide variety of foods, especially those with low water content or high fat content. They are commonly found in candies, baked goods, frostings, and snack foods to achieve specific visual appeal and make products more attractive.

Blue #1 Lake and Yellow #5 Lake are FDA-approved color additives for use in food. The FDA announced in April 2025 a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, which includes Blue #1 and Yellow #5. JECFA has evaluated both Blue #1 and Yellow #5 and set acceptable daily intakes. EFSA has also evaluated these color additives. Some studies have suggested a possible link between synthetic food dyes, including Yellow #5, and hyperactivity in some children, but the evidence is mixed and not conclusive.