Tartrazine (Yellow 5)

Also known as: Yellow 5, FD&C Yellow No. 5, E102

Moderate concernunder our published method

By NordicScan Evidence Engine · generated from structured evidence records · source spans verified by automated gates · Reviewed 2026-07-08 · Evidence snapshot geo-wave1-evidence-snapshot-2026-07-08 · Scoring engine det_v3 · how we score.

What it is

Tartrazine is a synthetic yellow food colour used in drinks, sweets, snacks, cereals and dessert products.

Why people ask

People ask because US labels identify Yellow 5 by name, while the EU adds an activity-and-attention warning for E102-containing foods.

What our method flags — by use

Food · EU

In EU food, our method rates tartrazine as moderate-concern and reports the mandatory on-pack activity-and-attention warning.

The EU restricted by labelling rule foods containing Tartrazine (E102) to carry the activity-and-attention warning in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.

Authority / source	Finding (our paraphrase)	Evidence tier	Date	Link
European Union / EUR-Lex	The EU restricted by labelling rule foods containing Tartrazine (E102) to carry the activity-and-attention warning in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.	authority_regulatory	2008-12-16	source

Evidence coverage for this use: Limited (computed from source count × authority tier × recency; signals depth, does not change the concern band).

Food · US

In US food, our method also rates tartrazine as moderate-concern, with a named colour-additive listing and a specific declaration rule for Yellow 5.

The US lists FD&C Yellow No. 5 under 21 CFR 74.705 and requires foods containing it to specifically declare FD&C Yellow No. 5.

Authority / source	Finding (our paraphrase)	Evidence tier	Date	Link
eCFR / US FDA	The US lists FD&C Yellow No. 5 under 21 CFR 74.705 and requires foods containing it to specifically declare FD&C Yellow No. 5.	authority_regulatory	2026-07-02	source

Evidence coverage for this use: Limited (computed from source count × authority tier × recency; signals depth, does not change the concern band).

How this moves a product’s score

On a product score, tartrazine contributes a moderate concern signal; the EU warning is reported as a market-specific regulatory signal.

Nordic Scan provides ingredient information and a concern score under our published method, for general consumer research. It is not medical advice and not a medical device, and does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or determine the safety of any product. Decide for yourself.

Common questions

Why does the EU scope appear first?: The EU warning is the most distinctive source cell for this ingredient; the US scope is kept separate for the named declaration rule.

This is what Tartrazine (Yellow 5) is. What’s in the products you buy? Scan a label and see the concern signals our method flags. Get the app.

Reviewed 2026-07-08 · Evidence snapshot geo-wave1-evidence-snapshot-2026-07-08 · Scoring engine det_v3 · Sources checked 2026-07-08 · See how we score.