Food additive databaseAdds colorChecked 2026-09-27
Synthetic food colors (coal-tar dyes) 合成着色料（タール色素）
Food additiveNot permitted in the EU
- Purpose
- adds color
- On the label
- “着色料（赤102、黄4）” (coloring (Red No. 102, Yellow No. 4)), “赤色3号” (Red No. 3), “青色1号” (Blue No. 1), and others
Flagged additives are marked when you use the Ingredient Checker (choose others).
In Japan
- Japan permits 12 tar dyes (Red Nos. 2, 3, 40, 102, 104, 105, and 106; Yellow Nos. 4 and 5; Green No. 3; Blue Nos. 1 and 2).
Under stricter rules abroad
Category: Not permitted in the EU
- Red Nos. 104, 105, and 106 and Green No. 3 cannot be used in food in the EU.
- In the EU, foods that use Yellow No. 4, Yellow No. 5, Red No. 40, Red No. 102, and others must carry a label saying they “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children” (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex V).
- In January 2025, the US FDA revoked the authorization of Red No. 3 for use in food (with a grace period until January 2027). The FDA says there is no evidence that it poses a risk to humans at current intake levels.
- From the end of 2027, the US state of California bans the use of Red No. 40, Yellow No. 4, Yellow No. 5, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, and Green No. 3 in public school meals (AB 2316).
Substances labeled this way
- Food Red No.2 (Amaranth) and its Aluminum Lake
- Food Red No.3 (Erythrosine) and its Aluminum Lake
- Food Red No.40 (Allura Red AC) and its Aluminum Lake
- Food Red No.102 (New Coccine)
- Food Red No.104 (Phloxine)
- Food Red No.105 (Rose Bengal)
- Food Red No.106 (Acid Red)
- Food Yellow No.4 (Tartrazine) and its Aluminum Lake
- Food Yellow No.5 (Sunset Yellow FCF) and its Aluminum Lake
- Food Green No.3 (Fast Green FCF) and its Aluminum Lake
- Food Blue No.1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) and its Aluminum Lake
- Food Blue No.2 (Indigo Carmine) and its Aluminum Lake
Related pages
Sources
- Food Labeling Standards (Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 10 of 2015) (Japanese)
- EU Regulation 1333/2008 (EUR-Lex)
- US FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
Last checked 2026-09-27. Rules change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.
The categories are not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies.