Yellow 5 Lake And Yellow 6 Lake

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 FCF) with an insoluble metallic salt, typically aluminum hydroxide. This process creates a color that is insoluble in water, making it suitable for specific food applications.

These color lakes are used to impart yellow and orange hues to foods. Because they are insoluble, they are often preferred in products where color migration is undesirable, such as fat-based items, coatings, and dry mixes. They are commonly found in snacks like chips and pretzels, candies, baked goods, and some processed foods.

Yellow 5 Lake and Yellow 6 Lake are approved as color additives by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Both Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 have been evaluated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and both bodies have set acceptable daily intakes. Some studies have explored a possible link between synthetic food dyes, including Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, and hyperactivity in some children. The FDA acknowledges that for certain susceptible children, food colors may exacerbate hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral issues, but states there is no demonstrated link for most children. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, which includes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6.