Yellow Lake 5 & 6

Yellow Lake 5 and Yellow Lake 6 are synthetic color additives. They are pigments made by combining the dyes Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) and Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) with a metallic salt, typically aluminum hydroxide. This process makes them insoluble, suitable for coloring products with low water content.

These lakes are added to foods to provide yellow and orange hues. They are often used in dry mixes, coatings, and fat-based products where water-soluble dyes might bleed or fade. Common applications include baking mixes, processed cereals, snack foods, and candies.

Yellow Lake 5 and Yellow Lake 6 are approved by the FDA as color additives for use in food. Some individuals, particularly those sensitive to aspirin, may experience allergic-type reactions like hives or asthma from Yellow 5. The FDA continues to review scientific evidence regarding a possible link between synthetic food colors and hyperactivity in some children, but the evidence is mixed and has not led to a ban or warning label requirement in the US. JECFA has evaluated both Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 and established acceptable daily intakes. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Yellow 5 and Yellow 6.