Food Colors Ranked by Safety — From Safest to Most Dangerous
All 0 food colorants in our database — FD&C synthetic dyes and natural colorants — ranked from most dangerous to safest. Includes EU regulatory status, adverse event data, and context on the FDA's 2027 synthetic dye phase-out.
FDA Synthetic Dye Phase-Out — Compliance Deadline: 2027
In 2025, the FDA announced the voluntary removal of all petroleum-derived synthetic dyes from the US food supply, with a target of 2026–2027 for industry compliance. Red 3 (erythrosine) was formally revoked in January 2025 with a mandatory compliance date of January 2027 for food. Other FD&C dyes are subject to ongoing review. Products containing these dyes remain on shelves until compliance deadlines pass — they are not immediately illegal.
Natural vs Artificial Colorants
Natural colorants (annatto, turmeric, beet juice, carmine, spirulina) generally carry lower safety concern ratings than petroleum-derived FD&C synthetic dyes. However, "natural" does not automatically mean safe for everyone — carmine (derived from cochineal insects) can cause severe allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, and annatto has been linked to behavioral concerns in some children.
The EU mandates EU-approved E-number labeling for all colorants, making identification straightforward on European labels. US labels use common names or "artificial color," which provides less transparency. See our label reading guide for how to identify colorants in US ingredient lists.
Disclaimer
Rankings present publicly available regulatory and scientific data for informational purposes only. This is not medical advice. All listed additives are currently FDA-approved. Data sourced from FDA, EFSA, and OpenFDA as of April 2026.