Food Dyes Guides

Guides in this cluster

Illustration of two rolls of glossy fruit leather, one partly unrolled, on a table

Comparisons · October 29, 2026

Does Fruit by the Foot Have Red 40? Roll-Ups Compared

Fruit by the Foot Berry Tie-Dye colors with spirulina and vegetable juice, but the Starburst flavor lists Red 40. Roll-Ups vary by flavor too. 9 g vs 7 g added sugar.

Illustration of Two peanut butter cheese crackers side by side on a plate

Comparisons · October 28, 2026

Which Has More Sodium, Lance or Austin? Both 330 mg

Lance Toast Chee and Austin peanut butter cheese crackers both list 330mg sodium and Yellow 6. Label numbers, pack sizes and the additive only Austin lists.

Illustration of a pizza roll beside a mini bagel bite on a plate

Comparisons · October 27, 2026

Do Totino's Pizza Rolls Have Red 40? No - Nor Bagel Bites

Neither label lists Red 40. Totino's pepperoni rolls list BHA, BHT, TBHQ and imitation mozzarella; Bagel Bites list real part-skim mozzarella. Sodium per serving inside.

Illustration of Two glass jars of dill pickle spears side by side on a wooden table

Comparisons · October 25, 2026

What's the Difference Between Claussen and Vlasic? Salt, Benzoate

Claussen spears are refrigerated, list sodium benzoate and have 280 mg sodium per 1 oz; Vlasic has 220 mg and no benzoate. Both now color with turmeric.

Illustration of two cereal bowls, one with round pebbles, one with marshmallow shapes

Comparisons · October 25, 2026

Does Fruity Pebbles Have Red 40? Fruity Pebbles vs Lucky Charms

Fruity Pebbles' current label still lists Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Blue 1. General Mills says Lucky Charms is now made without certified colors.

Illustration of Two single-serve fruit snack pouches beside a small pile of gummy fruit shapes

Comparisons · October 23, 2026

Do Welch's or Mott's Fruit Snacks Have Red 40? 8 g vs 9 g Added Sugar

Welch's says its fruit snacks dropped Red 40 and Blue 1 as of 2026; Mott's uses fruit and vegetable juice color. Fruit vs corn syrup first, sugar, gelatin compared.

Illustration of two cereal bowls, one with flat flakes and one with small ring-shaped pieces

Comparisons · October 22, 2026

Frosted Flakes vs Froot Loops: Same 12 g Sugar, 4 Dyes vs 0

Both cereals carry 12 g added sugar per serving, but US Froot Loops still lists Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1 and Yellow 6; Frosted Flakes lists no dyes.

Illustration of two stacks of square cheese slices beside paprika and annatto seeds

Comparisons · October 19, 2026

Kraft Singles vs Velveeta Slices: 230 mg vs 260 mg Sodium

Per 21 g slice, Kraft Singles list 230 mg sodium and 50 calories; Velveeta slices list 260 mg and 40. Both are colored with annatto plus paprika.

Illustration of two heaps of round sugar-coated candies beside a dish of white powder

Comparisons · October 17, 2026

Skittles vs M&M's: Which Has More Dyes? Both Use the Same 5

Skittles Original and M&M's Milk Chocolate both list Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1 and Blue 2. Skittles packs 45 g sugar per 2.17 oz; M&M's 31 g per 1.69 oz.

Illustration of a pile of colorful spices and a glass jar of fruit juice

Guides · October 7, 2026

Color Added vs Named Colors: 6 Scanned Labels Without FD&C Dyes

Annatto, paprika extract, fruit juice, or just color added: how 6 scanned products name colors that skip FDA batch certification, and what 21 CFR 101.22 allows.

Illustration of a laboratory rat near a petri dish with a yellow powder

Sunset Yellow in Pregnancy: New Rat Study Finds Few Effects

A new rat study of the dye Sunset Yellow (Yellow 6) during pregnancy found no harm to mothers or fetal growth, with one preliminary finding at the highest dose.

Illustration of an orange soda bottle and a frozen orange cream bar

Comparisons · October 5, 2026

Fanta Orange vs Friendly's Orange Cream: Two Yellow 6 Labels

Both list Yellow 6. We compare Fanta Orange and Friendly's Orange Cream bars on dyes, real orange, sweeteners, preservatives and what US and EU rules say.

Illustration of a stack of plastic beverage bottles with yellow liquid

Gatorade Recall: 122,021 Cases Had Undeclared Yellow Dyes

FDA lists a Class II recall of 28 oz Gatorade Lemon Lime, Orange and their Zero versions for undeclared Yellow 5 and/or Yellow 6. Lots, states, what to check.

Illustration of a pile of triangular corn chips next to a stack of ridged potato crisps

Comparisons · October 1, 2026

Doritos Nacho Cheese vs Pringles Hot Honey: Label Check

Same 150 calories per serving, very different labels: Doritos lists three synthetic dyes and MSG, Pringles Hot Honey uses paprika extract. Side-by-side.

Unlisted Dyes and Sulfites Trigger Three FDA Recalls

FDA's Sept. 23 enforcement report lists Ponceau 4R in haw candy, undeclared Yellow 5 and 6 in a carrot cake, and unlabeled sulfites in dried fruit.

Illustration of a petri dish with a white powder and a microscope

Digested Titanium Dioxide Damaged Gut Cells in a Lab Study

A September 2026 cell study found digested titanium dioxide particles broke down a gut barrier model. Here is what it shows and where FDA and EU rules stand.

Illustration of a pile of white powder next to a small scoop

FDA Weighs Calcium Sulfate as a New Food Color

FDA filed a petition to list calcium sulfate as a color in coated candies, creamers and icings, foods that often use titanium dioxide, whose ban is still under review.

Illustration of a small bowl of reddish-orange seeds next to a wedge of yellow cheese

Ingredient Reviews · September 25, 2026

Is Annatto in Cheese Bad for You? What FDA and EFSA Say

Annatto (E 160b) is the seed-based orange color in cheddar, butter and snacks. FDA, EFSA and JECFA consider it safe within limits; allergy reports are rare.

Illustration of a glass jar filled with dark brown liquid and a spoon

Ingredient Reviews · September 10, 2026

Is Caramel Color (E150) Safe? 4-MEI, Classes, and Labels

Learn what caramel color (E150a-d) is, how the four classes are made, the science behind 4-MEI safety, regulatory standards, and how to spot it on labels.

Illustration of a pile of colorful powders next to a clear glass jar

Guides · September 8, 2026

EU Warning-Label Additives Still Allowed in the US

Nine additives that need a warning label or are banned in the EU but stay legal in the US: Southampton dyes, titanium dioxide, bromate, ADA, propylparaben.

Illustration of a pile of blue powder next to a glass beaker

Ingredient Reviews · September 8, 2026

Is Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF, E133) Safe? Uses and Labels

Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF, E133): how it is made, where it shows up, absorption and ADI evidence, FDA vs EU vs California school rules, and how to spot it.

Illustration of a pile of yellow candies and a glass jar

Ingredient Reviews · September 8, 2026

Is Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow, E110) Safe? Uses, Labels, Risks

Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF, E110): what it is, where it shows up, the EU warning label vs US status, who reacts to it, and how to spot it on labels.

Illustration of a pile of white powder next to a magnifying glass

Ingredient Reviews · September 4, 2026

What Is Titanium Dioxide? Uses, Safety, and Labeling

Learn what titanium dioxide is, why the EU banned food additive E171 while the FDA permits it, nanoparticle health concerns, and how to spot it on labels.

Illustration of a pile of bright yellow powder next to a clear glass jar

Ingredient Reviews · September 4, 2026

What Is Tartrazine (Yellow 5)? Uses, Safety, and Labeling

Learn what tartrazine (Yellow 5) is, why it is used, its safety and sensitivity concerns, labeling rules, and common alternatives.

Illustration of a cluster of bright red cherries and a small pile of pink powder

Ingredient Reviews · September 4, 2026

What Is Erythrosine? Uses, Labels, and Safety

A plain-English review of Erythrosine: what it is, why it appears on labels, safety context, common uses, and sources.