FD&C Yellow No. 6 Color

FD&C Yellow No. 6 is a synthetic food coloring, also known as Sunset Yellow FCF. It is a petroleum-based azo dye used to impart an orange-yellow color to foods and beverages.

Manufacturers add FD&C Yellow No. 6 to enhance the visual appeal of food and beverages. It is commonly found in soft drinks, snacks, desserts, and processed foods to give them an orange-yellow hue.

FD&C Yellow No. 6 is an FDA-approved color additive for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics. Concerns have been raised about a possible link between synthetic food dyes, including Yellow No. 6, and hyperactivity in some children, though evidence is mixed and not conclusive across all studies. JECFA has evaluated FD&C Yellow No. 6 and set an acceptable daily intake. EFSA has also evaluated this color additive. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Yellow No. 6. In the European Union, foods containing Yellow No. 6 must carry a warning label stating that the dye 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'.