SEVERE — -15 pts

Red 40 (Allura Red AC)

Flags: F-R01, D-R01, T-R02

Also known as: Allura Red, FD&C Red No. 40, E129, CI 16035

Kids Food & SnacksKids BeveragesKids Toothpaste

What it is

Red 40 is a synthetic petroleum-derived azo dye used to add red, orange, or berry coloring to foods, beverages, and oral care products. It is the most widely used artificial food dye in the United States, found in candy, cereals, snacks, fruit-flavored drinks, and children's toothpaste.

SEVERE

Red 40 is flagged SEVERE because the American Academy of Pediatrics identified it as a food additive with evidence of behavioral effects in children, including hyperactivity and inattention. The European Union requires a mandatory warning label on products containing Red 40 stating 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.' Multiple countries have banned or restricted its use.

Why it matters

Behavioral effects in children: hyperactivity, inattention, and restlessness, particularly in children with ADHD predisposition
Hypersensitivity reactions in sensitive individuals, including hives and asthma exacerbation
Potential genotoxicity: some studies have found DNA damage in colon cells at high concentrations
Contains benzidine, a known human carcinogen, as a low-level contaminant from manufacturing

The research

Food Additives and Child Health (AAP Policy Statement)

Trasande L, Shaffer RM, Sathyanarayana S. Pediatrics, 2018. 142(2):e20181408 PMID: 30037975 [Source]

"AAP identified synthetic food colors as additives of concern for child health, citing evidence of behavioral effects including hyperactivity"

Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children (Southampton Study)

McCann D, Barrett A, Cooper A, et al. The Lancet, 2007. 370(9598):1560-1567 PMID: 17825405 [Source]

"Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrating that mixtures of artificial food colors and sodium benzoate increased hyperactivity in children in the general population"

FDA review of studies on food color and behavior

FDA Food Advisory Committee. FDA, 2011. Food Advisory Committee meeting materials [Source]

"FDA concluded that a causal relationship between color additives and hyperactivity had not been established in the general population, but acknowledged effects in susceptible children"

Who should care most

Children ages 2-12, particularly those with ADHD or family history of attention disorders. Effects are dose-dependent and more pronounced when multiple artificial dyes are consumed together.

How other countries handle it

Country	Status
United States	Permitted. FDA approved with no restrictions on use in children's products. No warning label required.
European Union	Permitted with mandatory warning: 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' (EU Regulation 1333/2008). Many manufacturers voluntarily reformulated to avoid the label.
Canada	Permitted. No warning label required.
Australia	Permitted as E129. No mandatory warning.

Sources

Food Additives and Child Health (AAP Policy Statement). Trasande L, Shaffer RM, Sathyanarayana S. Pediatrics, 2018. 142(2):e20181408. PubMed 30037975
Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children (Southampton Study). McCann D, Barrett A, Cooper A, et al. The Lancet, 2007. 370(9598):1560-1567. PubMed 17825405
FDA review of studies on food color and behavior. FDA Food Advisory Committee. FDA, 2011. Food Advisory Committee meeting materials. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/color-additives-history-color-additives

For informational purposes only. Not medical or dietary advice. Consult your pediatrician. Data current as of March 24, 2026.