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Uses of the Artificial Coloring Yellow 5

Yellow 5 coloring (FD&C Yellow No. 5) is a lemon yellow-colored dye that is synthetic and water-soluble. It is added to products to make up for color loss due to processing and storage conditions, to correct natural changes in color, to enhance natural colors or to provide color to foods that would otherwise have little or no color at all. It is used in a variety of foods, drinks and cosmetics.

  1. About Color Additives and Yellow 5

    • A color additive is a dye, pigment or any substance that is added to a substance such as food or a drug to add color. The Food and Drug Administration regulates all color additives to ensure that foods with color additives are safe to consume. Manufacturers are required by law to include color additives on the labels of their products. Yellow 5 is also called tartrazine and E102. The FDA gives it the tag FD&C because it is used in food, drugs, and cosmetics.

    Processed Foods

    • Processed foods such as candy, snack foods (chips, crackers, cookies), margarine, soups, cheese, jams and jellies and puddings, gelatin and pie fillings contain Yellow 5 coloring. Dessert powders and custards also include this color additive. In many processed foods, color is lost or the natural color unappealing, so Yellow 5 is used to enhance or improve the color of the finished product.

    Breakfast Foods

    • Many breakfast foods including boxed dry cereals, powdered breakfast drinks, and frozen foods like waffles and pancakes use Yellow 5 to enhance the color of the food. Yellow 5 is most commonly found in brightly colored cereals, but in processing frozen foods, color is lost or changed, so manufactures use Yellow 5 to regain or improve the color making it more fun or appealing to consumers.

    Beverages

    • Beverages such as soft drinks, energy drinks, and juice may contain Yellow 5 and other color additives. Often the beverages on store shelves are colorless or unattractive with just the basic ingredients. Yellow 5 adds vibrant color to these products which makes them more attractive on the shelf.

    Drugs and Cosmetics

    • Yellow 5 coloring is used in a variety of drugs and cosmetics. Vitamins and antacids, for example, use the coloring to enhance what might be an otherwise colorless product. Soaps, cosmetics such as eyeshadows, lipsticks, and concealers, and moisturizers also contain yellow 5 coloring to create the appealing colors consumers are searching for.

    Organic Foods

    • Although organic foods are believed to contain all-natural ingredients, the USDA categorizes a product as organic as long as it contains at least 95 percent organic materials by weight. Yellow 5 may be added to organic foods in small amounts, so foods like muffins, cookies or crackers may still be considered organic, despite having a color additive such as Yellow 5.

    Other Uses

    • Yellow 5 is used to color a variety of products beyond food, drugs and cosmetics. Paints, including craft paints, wall paints, and stains use Yellow 5 to tint to the desired colors. Markers and crayons also use Yellow 5 coloring.

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