Synthetic food dyes: Health risks, history, and policy

Synthetic food dyes, like Red 40 and Yellow 5, are commonly used in a wide variety of foods and beverages sold in the U.S., but they can cause health problems. CSPI has been calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect consumers from synthetic dyes for years, but the FDA has taken no action. See our resources below to learn more about synthetic dyes, how to avoid them, and how to help us prevent the harm caused by dyes in our food system.