Sunset yellow FCF (also known as orange yellow S, or C.I. 15985) is a petroleum-derived orange azo dye with a pH-dependent maximum absorption at about 480 nm at pH 1 and 443 nm at pH 13, with a shoulder at 500 nm. When added to foods sold in the United States, it is known as FD&C Yellow 6; when sold in Europe, it is denoted by E Number E110.
Uses
Sunset yellow is used in foods, cosmetics, and drugs. Sunset yellow FCF is used as an orange or yellow-orange dye. For example, it is used in candy, desserts, snacks, sauces, and preserved fruits.
Sunset yellow is often used in conjunction with E123, amaranth, to produce a brown colouring in both chocolates and caramel.
Safety
The acceptable daily intake (ADI) is 0–4 mg/kg under both EU and WHO/FAO guidelines.
Sunset yellow FCF has no known carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, or developmental toxicity in the amounts at which it is used. It is possible that certain food colorings may act as a trigger in those who are genetically predisposed, but the evidence is weak.
In 2008, the Food Standards Agency of the UK called for food manufacturers to voluntarily stop using six food additive colours, tartrazine, allura red, ponceau 4R, quinoline yellow WS, sunset yellow and carmoisine (dubbed the "Southampton 6") by 2009, and provided a document to assist in replacing the colors with other colors.
An EU regulation came into effect in 2010 mandating that food manufacturers include a label on foods containing the Southampton 6 stating: "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children".
Society and culture
Since the 1970s and the well-publicized advocacy of Benjamin Feingold, there has been public concern that food colorings may cause ADHD-like behavior in children. and in 2014 after further review of the data, the EFSA restored the prior ADI levels.