Yellow #5 Lake And Blue #1 Lake

Yellow 5 Lake and Blue 1 Lake are synthetic color additives. They are made by combining FD&C Yellow No. 5 and FD&C Blue No. 1 with a 'lake-forming' substance, typically aluminum hydroxide. This process makes the colors insoluble in water, which is useful for coloring dry food products.

These "laked" colors are used to give a bright, consistent color to foods that have low moisture content. Manufacturers add them to products like cakes, cupcakes, chewing gum, and mints to make them visually appealing.

Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) and Blue 1 are FDA-approved color additives. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Yellow 5 and Blue 1. The FDA stated this action is not based on safety concerns but on consumer preference. Some studies have suggested a link between certain artificial colors, including Yellow 5, and hyperactivity in some children, but the evidence is mixed and not conclusive. JECFA and EFSA have evaluated these colors and established acceptable daily intakes.