Includes Yellow 5 Lake

Yellow 5 Lake is a color additive made from the synthetic dye Yellow 5, also known as Tartrazine. Unlike the water-soluble Yellow 5 dye, Yellow 5 Lake is an insoluble pigment. It is created by combining Yellow 5 with a metallic salt, typically aluminum hydroxide.

Manufacturers add Yellow 5 Lake to give foods a yellow color. Because it is insoluble in water, it is often used in products containing fats and oils or in foods where the color needs to remain stable and not bleed, such as baked goods, coatings, and snack foods.

Yellow 5 Lake is an FDA-approved color additive for use in food. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Yellow 5. JECFA has evaluated Yellow 5 and set an acceptable daily intake, and EFSA has also evaluated it. Some studies have suggested a link between synthetic food colors, including Yellow 5, and hyperactivity in some children, though evidence is mixed. The FDA states that the available scientific evidence does not show a causal link between these colors and behavioral problems in the general population of children.