Is Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5) safe for babies and kids?
Moderate risk for kidsInfants are more vulnerable to Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5) 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 tartrazine (fd&c yellow no. 5)?
The IUPAC name is trisodium;5-oxo-1-(4-sulfonatophenyl)-4-[(4-sulfonatophenyl)diazenyl]-4H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate.
Also known as: trisodium;5-oxo-1-(4-sulfonatophenyl)-4-[(4-sulfonatophenyl)diazenyl]-4H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate, Tartrazine, Yellow 5, Aizen tartrazine.
- IUPAC name
- trisodium;5-oxo-1-(4-sulfonatophenyl)-4-[(4-sulfonatophenyl)diazenyl]-4H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate
- CAS number
- 1934-21-0
- Molecular formula
- C16H9N4Na3O9S2
- Molecular weight
- 534.4 g/mol
- SMILES
- C1=CC(=CC=C1N=NC2C(=NN(C2=O)C3=CC=C(C=C3)S(=O)(=O)[O-])C(=O)[O-])S(=O)(=O)[O-].[Na+].[Na+].[Na+]
- PubChem CID
- 164825
Risk for babies
Moderate riskInfants are more vulnerable to Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5) 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.
Risk for pregnant and nursing people
Context-dependentPregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5), 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.
Regulatory consensus
3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 30 positive / 14 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 30 positive / 14 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Skin-Eye | — | skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low) |
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 tartrazine (fd&c yellow no. 5)
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
- Consumer Products — food products, candy, beverages, cosmetics, supplements
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5):
-
Fragrance-free formulations
Trade-offs: Consumer preference for scented productsRelative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)
-
Essential oil-based fragrances (with disclosure)
Trade-offs: Natural does not mean safe — many essential oils are skin sensitizersRelative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
Is tartrazine (fd&c yellow no. 5) safe for kids?
Infants are more vulnerable to Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5) 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 tartrazine (fd&c yellow no. 5)?
Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); food products (Consumer products).
What should I do if my child is exposed to tartrazine (fd&c yellow no. 5)?
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.
Why do regulators disagree about tartrazine (fd&c yellow no. 5)?
Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5) has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Skin-Eye, with differing conclusions. 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. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5) in the baby app
Look up products containing tartrazine (fd&c yellow no. 5), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in baby View raw API dataSources (2)
- US FDA: Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5) — Certified Color Status, Mandatory Declaration Requirement, Hypersensitivity Cross-Reactivity, and 2011 Food Advisory Committee Review of Hyperactivity Evidence (2022) (2022) — regulatory
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives: Re-evaluation of Six Artificial Food Colors and Hyperactivity in Children — Southampton Study Review, Tartrazine (E102), EU Warning Label Requirement, and ADI Confirmation (EFSA Journal 2009;7(11):1351) (2009) — regulatory
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 →