Also known as: FD&C Yellow No. 5, CI 19140, Acid Yellow 23
Vegan
A synthetic azo dye produced entirely from petrochemicals. No animal products are used in its manufacture.
Ingredient Data
Vegan
E102
FD&C Yellow No. 5; CI 19140; Acid Yellow 23
A synthetic azo dye produced entirely from petrochemicals. No animal products are used in its manufacture.
Soft drinks, sweets, jelly, pickles, mustard, custard powder, some medications.
No substitute needed — Tartrazine is vegan. Natural alternatives include turmeric (E100) or beta-carotene (E160a).
Vegan, but one of the most controversial food additives. One of the 'Southampton Six' dyes linked to hyperactivity in children (McCann et al., The Lancet, 2007). Must be declared on labels in the EU with the warning 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.' Banned in Norway and Finland. Permitted in the EU and USA.
In depth
Tartrazine is a synthetic azo dye, part of a large family of colorants whose molecules contain a characteristic nitrogen-nitrogen double bond. It was first synthesized in the late nineteenth century and is produced industrially from petroleum-derived aromatic compounds through a sequence of reactions known as diazotization and coupling. Every input in the process is mineral or petrochemical in origin; no animal-derived substances are used at any stage, which is why tartrazine is classified as vegan despite the controversy that surrounds it on other grounds.
Manufacturers favor tartrazine because it is inexpensive, water-soluble, and stable under heat, light, and a wide range of pH conditions. It produces a consistent lemon-yellow shade and blends readily with other dyes. These practical advantages explain why it remains one of the most widely used synthetic food colorings in the world.
Tartrazine appears under different names depending on the region and product category. In the European Union it is listed as E102 or by its full name, and products containing it must carry the warning that it 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.' In the United States it is declared as FD&C Yellow No. 5 or simply Yellow 5; the FDA requires it to be listed by name on food labels, a requirement originally driven by reports of hypersensitivity reactions in a small number of people.
In cosmetics and personal care products the same dye appears under its Color Index designation, CI 19140. Canada likewise requires food dyes to be named specifically on labels. Because tartrazine must be declared explicitly in these major markets, it is one of the easier additives to identify — a check of the ingredient list is usually sufficient.
Tartrazine itself is vegan, so no substitute is needed on animal-welfare grounds. Consumers who avoid it for other reasons — hyperactivity concerns, sensitivity, or a preference for natural ingredients — have several plant-based or nature-identical options. Curcumin from turmeric (E100) gives a warm yellow, riboflavin (E101) a yellow-orange, beta-carotene (E160a) shades from yellow to orange, and lutein (E161b) a yellow tone as well.
The trade-offs are practical rather than ethical. Natural yellows are generally more expensive, less stable to light and heat, and more sensitive to pH changes, and turmeric can carry a detectable flavor at higher concentrations. One point worth checking: some carotenoid preparations use gelatin as a carrier or encapsulating agent, so a 'natural color' listing is not automatically vegan. Products certified vegan, or those specifying a plant-based carrier, avoid this issue.
Beyond the obvious candy-yellow sodas and sweets, tartrazine turns up in many products where a yellow tint goes unnoticed or is assumed to be natural. Pickles, mustard, custard powder, flavored chips, instant noodles, marshmallows, and boxed dessert mixes commonly use it to standardize color. Mixed with blue dyes, it also produces the green shades in mint-flavored candies, drinks, and jellies.
Non-food uses are just as widespread. Tartrazine colors many medications — tablets, capsules, and syrups — where it is disclosed in the package insert rather than on a food-style ingredient list; in the United States, drug labeling must specifically flag its presence. It also appears in vitamins, soaps, shampoos, and cosmetics under the name CI 19140, and in some pet foods. Anyone strictly avoiding the dye needs to check these categories as well.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, tartrazine is vegan. It is a fully synthetic dye made from petroleum-derived compounds, and no animal ingredients are used in its production. Some vegans nevertheless choose to avoid synthetic dyes because they have historically been tested on animals, but by ingredient origin tartrazine contains nothing animal-derived.
Yes. Tartrazine, E102, FD&C Yellow No. 5, and CI 19140 are all names for the same synthetic dye. E102 is used in the European Union, Yellow 5 in the United States, and CI 19140 mainly on cosmetic labels.
Tartrazine is synthesized from petroleum-derived aromatic compounds using standard azo dye chemistry. It does not come from plants or animals; it is an entirely artificial colorant.
The warning exists because a 2007 University of Southampton study linked six food dyes, including tartrazine, to hyperactivity in some children. EU rules now require foods containing tartrazine to state that it 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.' The dye remains legal in the EU, but the label is mandatory.
Tartrazine is permitted in both the EU and the United States, though the EU requires a warning label. Some countries have banned or restricted it at various times, and many manufacturers have voluntarily replaced it with natural colors in certain markets in response to consumer pressure.
Turmeric or curcumin (E100), beta-carotene (E160a), and riboflavin (E101) all provide yellow tones and are plant-based or synthetic rather than animal-derived. They are less heat- and light-stable than tartrazine and can cost more, and turmeric adds a slight flavor in larger amounts. For coloring food at home, a small amount of turmeric is the most common choice.