About
Allura Red AC is a synthetic azo dye that imparts a bright red colour, widely used in soft drinks, confectionery, bakery products, jellies, and breakfast cereals. It was introduced in the US in the 1980s partly as a replacement for Amaranth (Red No. 2) and remains one of the most commonly used artificial food colours globally.
Safety summary
EFSA and JECFA have established an ADI of 0–7 mg/kg body weight/day and EFSA concluded the dye is not carcinogenic; intake estimates in the general adult EU population remain well below the ADI. Emerging research raises concerns about potential effects on gut microbiome integrity and serotonin production in the intestines, though EFSA found no evidence warranting a change to the ADI as of its 2015 refined exposure assessment. Allura Red AC may cause allergic reactions such as urticaria and asthma in some individuals, and its inclusion in a mixture of dyes has been associated with increased hyperactivity in children in the Southampton study.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Banned | Allura Red AC is not listed among FSSAI-approved synthetic colorants; its use in food and beverages is not permitted in India. FSSAI caps all permitted synthetic food colorants at 100 ppm.source |
| Health Canada (Canada) | Approved | Allura Red AC is permitted in food products in Canada with mandatory labelling requirements declaring its specific name.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Approved under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, listed in Annex II. Maximum use levels range from 25–500 mg/kg food and up to 200 mg/L in alcoholic beverages and 100 mg/L in non-alcoholic beverages. EU labelling must include the name 'Allura Red AC' and the E number E129.source |
| Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom) | Approved | Retained as approved post-Brexit in the GB food additives register with the same conditions as prior EU authorisation. Products must carry a warning label referencing possible effects on activity and attention in children.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1PubMed. Allura Red AC is a xenobiotic. Is it also a carcinogen?, 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2other. European Parliament Written Question E-000887/2023: Harmfulness of E129 – Commission Response, 2023. europarl.europa.eu
- 3PubMed. Extraction, Analytical and Advanced Methods for Detection of Allura Red AC (E129) in Food and Beverages Products, 2016. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4EFSA. Refined exposure assessment for Allura Red AC (E 129), 2015. efsa.europa.eu
- 5EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Allura Red AC (E 129) as a food additive, 2009. efsa.europa.eu
