Also known as: FD&C Red No. 40, CI 16035, Food Red 17
Vegan
A synthetic azo dye derived from petroleum. Fully synthetic with no animal product involvement.
Ingredient Data
Vegan
E129
FD&C Red No. 40; CI 16035; Food Red 17
A synthetic azo dye derived from petroleum. Fully synthetic with no animal product involvement.
Red and orange sweets, fruit drinks, strawberry-flavoured products, some medications and cosmetics.
No substitute needed from a vegan perspective. Natural alternatives: beetroot red (E162), anthocyanins (E163).
The most widely used red food dye globally, particularly in the USA where it replaced Red No. 2 (banned by FDA in 1976). Part of the Southampton Six (McCann et al., The Lancet, 2007). Approved in the EU and USA with some restrictions elsewhere. A common vegan-friendly alternative to carmine (E120), making it important for vegans to identify on labels.
In depth
Allura Red AC is a synthetic azo dye, a class of colorants defined by a nitrogen-nitrogen double bond in the molecular structure. It is manufactured through a sequence of chemical reactions, diazotization followed by azo coupling, using aromatic compounds derived from petroleum. Dyes of this type were historically made from coal tar and are still sometimes called coal tar dyes, but modern production relies on petroleum-based feedstocks.
The finished dye is typically supplied as a dark red, water-soluble powder in the form of a sodium salt. For applications where a water-soluble dye would bleed or fade, manufacturers produce an insoluble version called a lake, in which the dye is bound to an aluminum-based substrate. Red 40 lakes are common in candy coatings, tablet coatings, and cosmetics.
Because the entire process is chemical synthesis, no animal-derived or plant-derived raw materials are involved at any stage. This makes Allura Red vegan by composition, in contrast to carmine, the insect-derived red colorant it frequently replaces.
Naming varies by region, which can make label reading confusing. In the United States, the dye appears on food labels as FD&C Red No. 40, Red 40, or Red 40 Lake. In the European Union it is listed as Allura Red AC or by its E number, E129. In cosmetics, it is usually identified by its Colour Index number, CI 16035. Canadian labels typically use Allura Red.
For vegans, the key task is distinguishing Allura Red from carmine, since both produce similar red and pink shades and are often used in the same product categories. Carmine appears on labels as carmine, cochineal extract, carminic acid, Natural Red 4, or E120, and is derived from insects. Allura Red is fully synthetic.
The dye also appears outside of food: it is a common colorant in medications, vitamins, mouthwash, and personal care products. In the US, over-the-counter drug labels list it in the inactive ingredients section, so it is worth checking there as well.
By composition, Allura Red is unambiguously vegan: it is synthesized entirely from petroleum-derived chemicals with no animal input. Its practical significance for vegans is largely as a replacement for carmine (E120), the red pigment extracted from cochineal insects. When a red candy, drink, or yogurt uses Red 40 instead of carmine, the coloring itself raises no vegan concern.
A separate consideration is animal testing. Like virtually all synthetic food additives, Allura Red's regulatory approval rests on toxicological studies conducted in animals, and such studies have continued periodically as regulators re-evaluate the dye. Some vegans choose to avoid synthetic dyes on these grounds, while others consider past testing irrelevant to the vegan status of the ingredient itself. Vegan certification programs generally do not treat this regulatory testing history as disqualifying.
This is a judgment each consumer makes individually; the ingredient contains no animal matter, which is the standard most definitions of veganism apply to food composition.
Allura Red is approved for food use in the United States, the European Union, and many other jurisdictions, but the regulatory treatment differs. In the US, it is a certified color additive: every batch must be tested and certified by the FDA before sale. It became the dominant American red dye after FD&C Red No. 2 (amaranth) was banned in 1976.
In the EU, foods containing E129 must carry a warning stating that the color may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. This requirement followed the 2007 Southampton study published in The Lancet, which examined mixtures of six synthetic dyes and a preservative. The labeling rule has led many European manufacturers to reformulate with natural colorants such as beetroot red or anthocyanins rather than carry the warning.
A small number of countries restrict or do not permit the dye, and scrutiny of synthetic food dyes has increased in recent years, including moves in some US states to limit their use in school foods.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Red 40 (Allura Red AC) is vegan by composition. It is a fully synthetic dye made from petroleum-derived chemicals, with no animal-derived ingredients involved in its production. Some vegans avoid it because its safety approval relied on animal testing, but the ingredient itself contains no animal matter.
No. Red 40 is entirely synthetic and made from petroleum derivatives. The insect-derived red colorant is carmine (E120), which comes from cochineal insects and appears on labels as carmine, cochineal extract, or Natural Red 4. Red 40 is frequently used as a synthetic replacement for carmine.
Yes. Allura Red AC, FD&C Red No. 40, E129, and CI 16035 all refer to the same synthetic dye. The name used depends on the region and product type: US food labels say Red 40, EU labels say E129 or Allura Red AC, and cosmetics use CI 16035.
No, Red 40 is approved in the European Union as E129. However, foods containing it must carry a warning stating it may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children, which has prompted many European manufacturers to switch to natural colorants. A few countries outside the EU restrict it.
Red 40 is a synthetic azo dye manufactured from petroleum-derived aromatic compounds through chemical synthesis. It is usually sold as a water-soluble sodium salt or as an insoluble aluminum lake used in coatings. No animal or plant raw materials are used in its production.
From a vegan standpoint, no substitute is needed, since Red 40 contains no animal ingredients. Those avoiding synthetic dyes can look for natural plant-based reds such as beetroot red (E162) and anthocyanins (E163). Note that carmine (E120), another common natural red, is derived from insects and is not vegan.