Yellow #5 adds color to make foods and soft drinks more appealing.
Some textile manufacturers also use azo dyes like tartrazine.
Some suspected reactions include:
Is Yellow 5 As Bad As Red 40?
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
However, the use of azo food dyes has been banned in some countries outside the United States.
Synthetic food dyes have increased by 500% in the past 50 years.
Behavioral problems such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have increased at the same time.
How to Avoid Tartrazine
Tartrazine is found in several foods.
While many products are labeled, others, such as ice cream and desserts, may not be.
Foods containing tartrazine include certain brands/types of:
Tartrazine is also used in several other products.
If it is essential for you, contact a healthcare provider for more information about avoiding it.
While some studies suggest it may have health effects on animals and humans, studies have not been conclusive.
In small quantities, the FDA has approved its use in certain foods.
Ask your healthcare provider for more information if you have concerns about yellow #5 dyes and food colorings.
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