FD&C Blue No.1 Lake

FD&C Blue No.1 Lake is a synthetic color additive. It is a lake pigment, meaning the water-soluble dye FD&C Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) has been precipitated onto an insoluble base, typically alumina. This process makes the color insoluble in water, allowing it to be used in products with fats or low moisture.

Manufacturers add FD&C Blue No.1 Lake to impart a blue color to foods. Because it is insoluble in water, it is often used in fat-based products like chocolates, candies, and coatings, where water-soluble dyes might bleed or migrate.

FD&C Blue No.1 Lake is an FDA-approved color additive for use in food. JECFA (the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) has evaluated FD&C Blue No. 1 and set an acceptable daily intake. EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) has also evaluated it and set an acceptable daily intake. Some studies have suggested a link between synthetic food dyes, including Blue No. 1, and hyperactivity in some children, though evidence is mixed and the FDA states that for most children, food dyes do not affect behavior. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including FD&C Blue No. 1.