What Is Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)? Foods and Safety

Yellow 5, also called tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5 in the US, E102 in Europe), is a synthetic dye that gives candy, sports drinks, flavored chips, and boxed mac and cheese their bright lemon color. It's legal in the US, but it's one of six petroleum-based dyes the FDA has asked food makers to phase out, with a target of the end of 2027. The concerns that come up most are sensitivity reactions in a small group of people and a possible effect on attention in some children. It's also easy to spot, because US labels must list it by name.

Key takeaways

• Yellow 5, FD&C Yellow No. 5, tartrazine, and E102 are four names for the same synthetic dye.
• It's permitted in the US and the EU, but EU labels carry a warning about children's activity and attention, and the FDA has asked industry to drop it by the end of 2027.
• Reported effects include itching or hives in some sensitive people and possible behavior changes in some children. The evidence is mixed, not conclusive.
• Check the ingredient list for "Yellow 5," "Yellow 5 Lake," or "tartrazine," including on foods that look green or orange.

What is tartrazine (Yellow 5, E102)?

Tartrazine is the chemical name for the dye US ingredient lists call Yellow 5. It produces a strong lemon-yellow shade, holds its color well during cooking and storage, and is inexpensive, which explains why it ends up in so many packaged foods.

You'll see it under several names depending on where a product was made:

• Yellow 5 or FD&C Yellow No. 5: the standard US label names
• Yellow 5 Lake: an insoluble form used in coatings, candy shells, and powders that need color without bleeding
• Tartrazine: the scientific and international name, common on imported products
• E102: the code used on EU and UK labels

In the US, Yellow 5 is a "certified" color additive, so each batch has to pass FDA certification before it can go into food. The FDA also states that "the label must list the names of any FDA-certified color additive" (FDA color additives Q&A). That rule covers every certified dye today, not just Yellow 5.

Where does Yellow 5 come from?

Yellow 5 is made in a chemical plant, not extracted from fruit, flowers, or spices. It belongs to a family of synthetic colors called azo dyes, and the FDA groups it with the other certified dyes it describes as "petroleum-based," because their starting materials trace back to petroleum chemistry.

Plant-based yellows like turmeric, annatto, and beta-carotene are different: they're exempt from batch certification and never appear as "Yellow 5." They're still regulated additives, though, so "natural" doesn't automatically mean better.

What does Yellow 5 do to your body?

US and EU regulators allow it at permitted levels, and for most people no effect has been shown. The research questions center on two groups: people sensitive to the dye, and children whose behavior may be affected.

Sensitivity reactions and the aspirin link

Tartrazine has been linked to itching or hives in some people, and it's often discussed alongside aspirin sensitivity. These reactions are uncommon in the general population, but they're real for the people who have them. If you notice a pattern after eating brightly colored foods, a doctor or allergist is the right person to help sort it out.

Children's behavior and attention

The study most people point to is a 2007 randomized trial published in The Lancet. Researchers in the UK gave children drinks containing one of two mixtures of artificial colors combined with the preservative sodium benzoate, and they saw more hyperactive behavior than with a placebo.

One of the two mixtures included tartrazine. That detail matters: because the children received blends rather than single dyes, the study can't tell you how much of the effect, if any, came from Yellow 5 on its own.

In the US, an FDA advisory committee reviewed the evidence in 2011 and did not recommend a warning label. The FDA's Q&A page now says "certain children may be sensitive" and that the agency "will continue to examine the effects of color additives on children's behavior." For a broader look at dyes marketed to kids, see artificial food dyes in kids snacks.

Foods with Yellow 5

Yellow 5 shows up in many products that aren't obviously yellow. Because it's cheap and stable, manufacturers use it across a wide range of aisles:

• Chips and crackers: nacho cheese, ranch, and other flavored varieties
• Boxed mac and cheese: some brands use it for that bright orange-yellow color
• Candy and gummies: lemon, lime, and mixed-fruit flavors
• Sports and energy drinks: especially yellow, green, and "lemon-lime" ones
• Breakfast cereals: frosted and fruit-flavored options aimed at kids
• Pickles, relish, and condiments: some brands use it to brighten the color
• Chewable vitamins and liquid medicines: a common surprise for parents

Store brands at big retailers use it too, so a cheaper version of a product isn't necessarily dye-free.

Green and orange foods can contain it

Yellow 5 is often blended with other dyes. Combined with Blue 1, it makes green. Combined with Red 40, it makes orange. A green lollipop or an orange cheese puff can contain Yellow 5 even though nothing about it looks lemon yellow, which is why the ingredient list is more reliable than the color of the food.

Yellow 5 vs Yellow 6

Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 are often confused, and they frequently appear in the same products. They are different dyes with different names and shades.

Seeing both on one label usually means they're blended to fine-tune a yellow or orange shade. Our Yellow 6 food dye guide covers sunset yellow in detail.

Where the FDA and the EU stand in 2026

Yellow 5 is still legal in both the US and the EU, but the direction in the US has changed. In April 2025, HHS and the FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes, asking industry to remove six of them: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3. The FDA now tracks company pledges and targets the end of 2027. This is a request to industry, not a ban, so Yellow 5 can still legally appear on shelves.

Two related changes are worth knowing. The FDA revoked Red No. 3's food authorization, with a January 15, 2027 deadline (more in our Red dye 3 ban guide). And since February 5, 2026, the FDA allows a "no artificial colors" claim on products that don't contain certified FD&C dyes, even if they use other added colors. For a roundup of what else regulators are reviewing, see US food additives under FDA review in 2026.

In the EU, tartrazine is permitted as E102. Under EU law (Regulation 1333/2008), foods that contain it must carry the warning: "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children." The European Food Safety Authority re-evaluated tartrazine in 2009 and concluded its existing acceptable daily intake did not need to change. The real gap is labeling: European shoppers get a warning, US shoppers get the ingredient list.

How to spot Yellow 5 on labels

Yellow 5 is one of the easier additives to catch, because it can't hide behind a vague term. A few habits make it quick:

1. Read the ingredient list, not the front of the box. Claims like "made with real fruit" say nothing about whether synthetic dyes are also present.
2. Look for every name. Scan for "Yellow 5," "FD&C Yellow No. 5," "Yellow 5 Lake," "tartrazine," and, on imports, "E102."
3. Don't skip green and orange foods. Blends with Blue 1 or Red 40 are common.
4. Check vitamins and medicines. Chewable vitamins and liquid medicines list colors under "inactive" or "other" ingredients.
5. Look for plant-based colors. Turmeric, annatto, beta-carotene, and paprika extract are common swaps, and more brands now use them.

New to label reading? Start with how to read food ingredient labels, then browse healthy snacks without artificial dyes.

The bottom line

Yellow 5 is a legal, widely used synthetic dye with a mixed but not alarming research record. The clearest concerns are sensitivity reactions in a small group of people and a possible behavioral effect in some children, and the FDA has asked manufacturers to remove it by the end of 2027. Until then, the most practical step is to check ingredient lists, especially on kids' snacks, drinks, and green or orange foods. If you'd like a faster way to flag tartrazine while you shop, Osana can scan a barcode or ingredient label and show which dyes are inside.

For Yellow 5 next to every other certified color, with label names and E numbers, see the full list of food dyes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Yellow 5 banned in any countries?

Not in the US or the EU. The EU permits it as E102 with a mandatory warning about children's activity and attention. In the US, the FDA has asked manufacturers to remove it voluntarily by the end of 2027.

Is Yellow 5 the same as tartrazine?

Yes. Yellow 5 (or FD&C Yellow No. 5) is the US label name, tartrazine is the scientific and international name, and E102 is the European code. All three refer to the same synthetic dye.

Does Yellow 5 affect adults or only children?

The behavior research focuses on children. Sensitivity reactions, such as itching or hives, can happen at any age, and they're often discussed in people who are also sensitive to aspirin. If you suspect a reaction, talk with your doctor.

How can I avoid Yellow 5 when grocery shopping?

Read the ingredient list, since Yellow 5 must be named on US labels, and remember that green and orange products often contain it. Look for foods colored with turmeric, annatto, or beta-carotene. Since February 5, 2026, the FDA allows a "no artificial colors" claim only on products without certified FD&C dyes such as Yellow 5.