Is it harmful to add tartrazine (food coloring) to food?

Tartrazine (Food Coloring) Safety in Food

Tartrazine (Yellow Dye #5) is generally safe for most individuals, but can cause allergic or intolerance reactions in a small percentage of people, particularly those with asthma or aspirin sensitivity.

Safety Profile of Tartrazine

Tartrazine is one of the most commonly used food colorings (Yellow Dye #5) and has been extensively studied for its safety. The evidence regarding tartrazine shows:

• It is recognized as safe by regulatory agencies when used within approved limits 1
• The prevalence of tartrazine intolerance is estimated to be less than 0.12% of the general population 2
• In a double-blind placebo-controlled study of atopic adults, administration of 35mg of tartrazine did not precipitate significant cutaneous, respiratory or cardiovascular reactions compared to placebo 3

Potential Health Concerns

While generally safe, tartrazine may cause adverse reactions in specific populations:

Allergic/Intolerance Reactions

• Most commonly manifests as urticaria (hives) and asthma in sensitive individuals 4
• Cross-sensitivity may occur in aspirin-sensitive and NSAID-sensitive patients 4
• The NIAID expert panel guidelines suggest that individuals with documented IgE-mediated food allergy should avoid ingesting their specific allergens 5

Long-term Exposure Considerations

• A study on Wistar rats receiving tartrazine daily for ten months showed an increase in lymphocytes and eosinophils in the gastric antrum mucosa, though no carcinogenic changes were observed 6
• The Cochrane review on tartrazine exclusion for allergic asthma concluded that routine tartrazine exclusion may not benefit most patients, except those few individuals with proven sensitivity 7

Recommendations for Consumption

Based on the available evidence:

1. For the general population: Tartrazine is safe for consumption within regulatory limits 1, 2

2. For individuals with suspected sensitivity:

   • Consider avoiding foods containing tartrazine if you have:
     • History of asthma exacerbations related to food additives
     • Chronic urticaria
     • Known aspirin or NSAID sensitivity
   • The gold standard for diagnosis is double-blind placebo-controlled challenge 1

3. For parents and caregivers:

   • Be aware that tartrazine must be listed on food labels, making it easier to identify and avoid if necessary 2
   • Products sold without packaging (ice creams, desserts, bakery items) may contain tartrazine without labeling 2

Risk Mitigation

If you have concerns about tartrazine:

• Read food and medication labels carefully (tartrazine is listed as FD&C Yellow #5 or E102)
• Consider selecting organic alternatives when possible, as they do not contain artificial food colorings 1
• Be aware that tartrazine is present in many medications as well as foods 7

The weight of scientific evidence indicates that for most people, tartrazine does not pose significant health risks when consumed within established safety limits. However, individuals with specific sensitivities should remain vigilant about their consumption of this food additive.