Baby Safety / Compounds / Acid Red 114

Is Acid Red 114 safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Acid Red 114 than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is acid red 114?

The IUPAC name is 2-[[4-[4-[(1-anilino-1,3-dioxobutan-2-yl)diazenyl]-3-chlorophenyl]-2-chlorophenyl]diazenyl]-3-oxo-N-phenylbutanamide.

Also known as: 2-[[4-[4-[(1-anilino-1,3-dioxobutan-2-yl)diazenyl]-3-chlorophenyl]-2-chlorophenyl]diazenyl]-3-oxo-N-phenylbutanamide, Kromon Yellow MTB, Helioyellow GW, Light Yellow JB.

IUPAC name
2-[[4-[4-[(1-anilino-1,3-dioxobutan-2-yl)diazenyl]-3-chlorophenyl]-2-chlorophenyl]diazenyl]-3-oxo-N-phenylbutanamide
CAS number
6358-85-6
Molecular formula
C32H26Cl2N6O4
Molecular weight
629.5 g/mol
SMILES
CC(=O)C(N=NC1=C(Cl)C=C(C=C1)C1=CC(Cl)=C(C=C1)N=NC(C(C)=O)C(=O)NC1=CC=CC=C1)C(=O)NC1=CC=CC=C1
PubChem CID
186342

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Acid Red 114 than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Acid Red 114, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Acid Red 114. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 11 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 11 negative reports)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter acid red 114

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Acid Red 114:

  • Natural dyes (indigo, madder, weld) where applicable
    Trade-offs: Lower colorfastness. Limited palette. Higher cost per unit.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
  • Reactive dyes with lower aquatic toxicity
    Trade-offs: Not suitable for all fiber types
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is acid red 114 safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Acid Red 114 than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain acid red 114?

Acid Red 114 appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Waste treatment sites (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to acid red 114?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Acid Red 114 in the baby app

Look up products containing acid red 114, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (3)
  1. PubChem Compound CID 186342 — database
  2. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard — DTXSID1021451 — epa
  3. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 6358-85-6 — reference

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →