Yellow Lake 5 And Yellow Lake 6

Yellow Lake 5 (also known as Tartrazine Lake) and Yellow Lake 6 (also known as Sunset Yellow FCF Lake) are synthetic color additives. They are made by combining the water-soluble dyes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 with an insoluble metallic salt, usually aluminum hydroxide. This process creates a "lake" pigment that is oil-dispersible and more stable than the original dyes.

These ingredients are added to foods to provide yellow and orange coloring. Their lake form makes them suitable for products with fats and oils, where water-soluble dyes might bleed. They are commonly found in snacks like chips, popcorn, and candy, as well as baked goods and beverages.

Yellow Lake 5 and Yellow Lake 6 are FDA-approved color additives for use in food. Yellow 5 has been associated with allergic reactions, such as hives and asthma, in a small number of sensitive individuals. Some studies have explored a potential link between synthetic food dyes, including Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, and hyperactivity in children, but the evidence is mixed, and the FDA states that for most children, food dyes do not affect behavior. Both Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 have been evaluated by JECFA and EFSA, and JECFA has set an acceptable daily intake for each. In April 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Yellow 5 and Yellow 6.