FD&C Yellow #5 FD&C Yellow #6

FD&C Yellow #5 (also known as Tartrazine) and FD&C Yellow #6 (also known as Sunset Yellow FCF) are synthetic azo dyes. They are manufactured from petroleum.

These dyes are added to foods to give them a yellow or orange-yellow color, making them visually more appealing. They are commonly found in products like cakes, cupcakes, snack cakes, fruit and vegetable juices, and candy.

FD&C Yellow #5 and FD&C Yellow #6 are approved by the FDA as food additives. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. There has been debate about a possible link between these and other synthetic food dyes and hyperactivity in some children, with evidence being mixed; both the FDA and EFSA have reviewed this research. FD&C Yellow #5 is also known to cause allergy-like reactions, such as hives or asthma, in a small number of sensitive individuals. JECFA and EFSA have both evaluated these dyes.