Are food dyes unhealthy?
April 25, 2025
Medically Reviewed | Last reviewed by Lindsey Wohlford on April 25, 2025
You¡¯ve probably heard that you should eat the rainbow to get the vitamins and nutrients your body needs.
Eating whole foods in a variety of colors ¡ª think red apples, orange carrots, yellow squash, green lettuce, and so on ¡ª means you get a variety of phytonutrients, or antioxidants.
What about foods that get a little help? Food dyes are used to boost or change the color of foods and drinks. But are these food dyes harmless, or do they affect your health?
We spoke to wellness dietitian Lindsey Wohlford to help us get some black and white answers about the technicolor world of food dye.
Types of food dye
Food dyes can be split into two main categories: natural and artificial. Here¡¯s how Wohlford explains each.
Natural food dyes are made from plant-based or natural sources. For example:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Spices
Artificial food dyes are made from synthetic, or human-made, chemicals. Often, these are petroleum-based.
¡°Manufacturers often prefer these because they provide a brighter and more uniform color in food products,¡± Wohlford says.
How to tell if a food contains dye
While some food dyes are easy to spot ¡ª say, electric blue soda or rainbow candy ¡ª they aren¡¯t always obvious.
One way to know for sure? Check a product¡¯s packaging for its ingredients list, which can be found near the Nutrition Facts.
¡°The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires manufacturers to list all ingredients and additives,¡± Wohlford says.
But while food dyes must be listed on an item¡¯s packaging, there are different rules for artificial and natural food dyes.
Examples of artificial dye
There are nine FDA-approved . These artificial dyes are named in a food or drink¡¯s ingredients list. The product¡¯s packaging may also include phrases like ¡®artificially flavored¡¯ or ¡®artificial color,¡¯ Wohlford says.
- Blue No. 1
- Blue No. 2
- Citrus Red No. 2
- Green No. 3
- Red No. 3
- Orange B
- Red No. 40
- Yellow No. 5
- Yellow No. 6
Examples of natural dye
Natural food dyes can be a bit trickier to identify using a product¡¯s ingredients list because they don¡¯t need to be named. While the exact ingredient used to give an item color may be specified on its ingredients list, some natural dyes are simply designated by a phrase like ¡®color added¡¯ or ¡®natural color,¡¯ Wohlford says.
Some natural food dyes include:
- Beet juice and powder
- Beta-carotene
- Butterfly pea flower extract
- Fruit juice
- Riboflavin
- Saffron
- Spirulina extract
- Turmeric
- Vegetable juice
What to know about artificial food dye and health risks
Right now, research on the impacts of artificial food dyes is still unfolding. However, there are two primary health concerns surrounding artificial food dyes: hyperactivity and neurobehavioral issues in children, and cancer risk, Wohlford says.
Hyperactivity and neurobehavioral issues in children
Research is exploring the link between artificial food dyes and hyperactivity and neurobehavioral issues in children. So far, there isn¡¯t evidence that artificial food dyes have caused these issues, Wohlford notes.
Cancer risk
Earlier this year, the FDA banned the use of Red No. 3 in food and ingested drug products. This came after two studies found that being exposed to high amounts of Red. No 3 led to tumors in male lab rats, according to an on the ban.
The FDA wrote this was ¡°due to a rat specific hormonal mechanism. The way that FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans.¡±
But because of a clause that doesn¡¯t allow the FDA to approve food additives that can cause cancer in either humans or animals, Red No. 3 won't be allowed in food products starting in January 2027.
Red is only one of the artificial colors used in food. So, what about other artificial food dyes and cancer risk?
¡°Other artificial dyes have also come under question for their potential to increase cancer risk; however, the level of risk to humans is unclear,¡± Wohlford says.
In April 2025, the FDA to transition the U.S. from artificial food dyes to natural dyes. This involves revoking authorization for two artificial food dyes in the coming months: Orange B, which is used to color sausage casings, and Citrus Red No. 2, which is used to color orange peels. These plans will also end the use of the remaining artificial color additives in foods and drinks by the end of 2026. These include:
- Blue No. 1
- Blue No. 2
- Green No. 3
- Red No. 40
- Yellow No. 5
- Yellow No. 6
Key takeaways
- Food dye can come from natural and artificial sources.
- Food dye from artificial sources has been linked to health concerns like cancer risk, as well as hyperactivity and neurobehavioral issues in children. This research is ongoing.
- Foods that include dye are considered ultra-processed foods. It is best to limit your intake of these items.
What we know for sure
It can feel really confusing and frustrating not to have all the answers, especially about something like diet, which plays a huge role in your everyday life. But dyes aren¡¯t the only factor worth considering when it comes to a healthy diet.
It can help to focus on the nutritional basics we know for sure.
Limit ultra-processed foods
¡°While research remains limited as to the impacts of artificial food dyes, we do know that they would be considered an ultra-processed food or food component,¡± Wohlford says.
Often, she notes these ultra-processed foods:
- Have lower nutritional value
- Have higher amounts of sugar, sodium and fat
- May contain food dyes and other additives
¡°Current research indicates that consuming ultra-processed foods regularly increases a person¡¯s risk for chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and cancer, as well as other adverse health outcomes,¡± she says.
That doesn¡¯t automatically make foods that use natural dye better for you, however. That's because it¡¯s possible for a food to be both ultra-processed and contain natural dye, Wohlford says.
Instead, focus on limiting the amount of ultra-processed foods in your diet overall.
If you have cancer, you might be wondering whether you should avoid food with artificial dyes.
¡°While research continues to evolve on the link between synthetic food dyes and cancer, cancer patients should consider choosing a whole food, plant-rich diet,¡± she says.
Choose healthy foods
MD Anderson dietitians recommend choosing healthy foods rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds.
Come mealtime, this could look like filling two-thirds of your plate with whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds. The remaining one-third can be lean animal protein or plant-based protein.
¡°Selecting a whole food, plant-rich diet is key to reducing chronic disease risk and optimizing nutrition,¡± Wohlford says.
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The level of risk to humans is unclear.
Lindsey Wohlford
Wellness dietitian