Yellow 5 & 6 Lakes

Yellow 5 Lake and Yellow 6 Lake are synthetic color additives. They are pigments made by combining the water-soluble dyes Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) and Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow) with an insoluble material, typically aluminum hydroxide. This process makes them insoluble in water, which is useful for coloring products that contain fats or oils, or for dry mixes.

These color additives are used to impart yellow and orange-yellow hues to foods. Because they are insoluble, lakes are often preferred over their water-soluble dye counterparts for products with low moisture content, such as baked goods, confectionery coatings, dry beverage mixes, and fat-based products like frostings and chocolate.

Yellow 5 Lake and Yellow 6 Lake are approved by the FDA as color additives for use in food. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, which includes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. Concerns have been raised about a possible link between synthetic food colors, including Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, and hyperactivity in some children; however, scientific evidence on this topic is mixed. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has evaluated both Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 and set an acceptable daily intake. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has also evaluated these colors.