Baby Safety / Compounds / Sudan I

Is Sudan I safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Sudan I 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 sudan i?

Also known as: 1-(Phenylazo)-2-naphthalenol, C.I. Solvent Yellow 14, Grasal Orange, Ceres Orange R.

CAS number
842-07-9
Molecular formula
C16H12N2O
Molecular weight
248.28 g/mol
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)N=NC2=C(C=CC3=CC=CC=C32)O
PubChem CID
13297

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Sudan I 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 Sudan I, 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

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Sudan I.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
Unknown——

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 sudan i

  • Consumer Products — personal care, industrial, food contact

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Sudan I:

  • Natural dyes; Undyed alternatives
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is sudan i safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Sudan I 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 sudan i?

Sudan I appears in: personal care (Consumer products); industrial (Consumer products).

What should I do if my child is exposed to sudan i?

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 Sudan I in the baby app

Look up products containing sudan i, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. PubChem (2026) — database

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 →