Yellow Lake

Yellow Lake is a type of food coloring made by combining a water-soluble synthetic dye (such as Yellow 5 or Yellow 6) with an insoluble material, typically aluminum hydroxide. This process creates a pigment that is not soluble in water, making it useful for coloring products with low moisture content or those where the color needs to remain stable without bleeding.

Manufacturers add Yellow Lake to provide color to a wide range of food products, especially those that are fat-based or have very little water. Its insolubility helps prevent color from migrating or bleeding in foods like coatings, frostings, snacks, and confectionery items.

Yellow Lake is an FDA-approved color additive. The specific synthetic dyes used to make Yellow Lake (such as Yellow 5 and Yellow 6) are among those included in the FDA's April 2025 announcement of a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes. JECFA and EFSA have evaluated the parent synthetic dyes and set acceptable daily intakes. Concerns have been raised about synthetic food dyes, including potential links to hyperactivity in some children, though scientific evidence on this topic is mixed.