Sunset Yellow FCF E110
synthetic — Primarily azo dye.
disodium 6-hydroxy-5-[(4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenesulfonate
CAS: 2783-94-0
Factual Regulatory Reference
This database provides factual regulatory information compiled from official government sources. It does not constitute medical, nutritional, or safety advice. Regulatory status varies by country and is subject to change. Always refer to your local regulatory authority for the most current information.
What Is Sunset Yellow FCF?
Sunset Yellow FCF (E110) is a synthetic azo dye that imparts an orange-yellow color to food and beverages. It is produced by chemical synthesis — coupling diazotized sulfanilic acid with 6-hydroxy-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid — and does not occur in nature. Common applications include flavored soft drinks, confectionery, marmalade, marzipan, packet soups, and some medications. Sunset Yellow is one of the 'Southampton Six' colors for which the EU mandates the warning label 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008; EFSA (2009) and JECFA (2016) both set an ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight per day, while the FDA approves it as FD&C Yellow No. 6 with batch certification required.
? Did You Know?
Beyond food, Sunset Yellow FCF is also used in cosmetics, medicine, industrial applications. Its versatility makes it one of the most multi-purpose chemical compounds in everyday life.
Regulatory Analysis
Sunset Yellow's regulatory significance lies in its sheer ubiquity: as one of the most widely used food colorants globally and a member of the Southampton Six, it serves as a bellwether for how the international community manages azo dye risk. The EU's warning label requirement creates an unusual market dynamic where the same product formulation may carry behavioral warnings in Europe but none in the United States, Canada, or Japan, effectively communicating different risk messages to consumers based solely on geography. The compound's continued global prevalence despite the hyperactivity evidence reflects an implicit regulatory judgment that aesthetic food coloring serves a commercially important function that justifies population-level behavioral risk.
Detailed Regulatory Assessment
European Union (EFSA)
Must carry warning: 'May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'
Official EFSA LinkUnited States (FDA)
Requires batch certification by FDA
Japan (MHLW)
Compliant with Japanese food sanitation law.
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
International Standard (JECFA)
mg/kg body weight per day
European Standard (EFSA)
Natural Occurrence
This additive is not known to occur naturally in significant quantities.
Manufacturing
Synthesized by coupling diazotized sulfanilic acid with 6-hydroxy-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid.
Applications Beyond Food
Used in some cosmetic formulations.
Used as a colorant in tablets and capsules.
Used in textile dyeing.