What E102 actually is
Tartrazine is a bright lemon-yellow azo dye, one of the oldest synthetic food colours still in use. It is intensely strong, water-soluble, and cheap, which is why it turns up anywhere a vivid yellow is wanted without cost.
What it is made from
Synthesised from petrochemical feedstock. It is not derived from any plant or animal source, despite occasionally being confused with turmeric or saffron, which do the same job naturally.
Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status
Tartrazine is fully synthetic with no animal input, so it is suitable for vegan, vegetarian, halal, and kosher diets. Whether you want it for other reasons is a separate question.
Is E102 safe?
This is the additive class with a mandatory warning label attached, which makes it unusual. The 2007 Southampton study found that mixtures of certain colours plus sodium benzoate were associated with increased hyperactivity in children. The EU response was not a ban but a required warning: any food containing tartrazine, quinoline yellow, sunset yellow, carmoisine, ponceau 4R, or allura red must carry the statement that it may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. Many manufacturers reformulated to natural colours rather than carry that sentence. EFSA has an acceptable daily intake of 7.5 mg per kg of body weight per day. A separate, well-established issue is that a small number of people, particularly those with aspirin sensitivity or asthma, react to tartrazine.
- Carries a mandatory EU and UK warning about activity and attention in children
- A small number of people, especially with aspirin sensitivity or asthma, have genuine intolerance reactions
- Urticaria and skin reactions are reported in sensitive individuals
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Acceptable daily intake of 7.5 mg per kg of body weight per day. Mandatory activity and attention warning on any food containing it.
- FDA (US)
- Certified colour additive. Must be declared by name because of the recognised sensitivity in a small subset of people.
Foods it turns up in
- Soft drinks and squash
- Sweets and jellies
- Packet sauces, mustards, and pickles
- Some snack foods and instant desserts
Names it hides behind
- E102
- Tartrazine
- Yellow 5
- FD&C Yellow No. 5
- Colour (E102)
Common questions
- Why does tartrazine have a warning label?
- The 2007 Southampton study linked mixtures of certain colours with increased hyperactivity in children. The EU required a warning that the product may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children, rather than banning it.
- Is tartrazine banned anywhere?
- It is not banned in the EU, UK, or US, but the warning requirement pushed many European manufacturers to reformulate voluntarily, so it appears less often on EU shelves than it used to.
- Is tartrazine vegan and halal?
- Yes. It is entirely synthetic with no animal-derived input at any point.
- Which other colours carry the same warning?
- Quinoline yellow (E104), sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), ponceau 4R (E124), and allura red (E129). Together with E102 these are often called the Southampton Six.
- What replaces tartrazine?
- Curcumin (E100) from turmeric, lutein (E161b), and beta-carotene (E160a) give yellow without the warning requirement, which is why reformulated products commonly list them.
Checking a real pack
This page answers the code. The pack in your hand is what decides, because the same code can come from different sources depending on the manufacturer. LabelWise, formerly SafeChoice, scans the label and explains what is in front of you.
Related
LabelWise content is educational and describes how additives are made, regulated, and labelled. It is not medical, dietary, or religious advice. For certification questions, the mark on the pack and the certifying body are the authority.