Worst Food Additives for Children
Children consume more food relative to body weight than adults, their detoxification systems are still developing, and their diets are disproportionately high in processed foods. Here is what the regulatory data says about the additives most prevalent in products marketed to children.
What to Watch For
Body weight scaling
Product targeting
The Southampton Six
The Dyes to Avoid
FD&C artificial dyes — common in children's cereals, candy, and beverages.
FD&C Red No. 3, Aluminum Lake is a synthetic colorant that was delisted from FDA approval in 2024. It was previously used in food and cosmetics to provide red coloring, though its exact mechanism of action in modern formulations remains unclear.
Full profileFD&C Red No. 3, also known as erythrosine, is a synthetic red colorant derived from fluorescein. It is used in food and beverages to provide a bright red or pink color and has been employed in the food industry for decades.
Full profileFD&C Blue No. 1 is a synthetic colorant approved by the FDA for use in foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. It is primarily used to impart blue coloring to a wide range of consumer products and has no reported adverse events or recalls in the FDA database.
Full profileFD&C Blue No. 1, Aluminum Lake is a synthetic colorant consisting of FD&C Blue No. 1 dye adsorbed onto an aluminum hydroxide substrate. It is used to impart blue coloring to a wide range of food products and beverages.
Full profileFD&C Blue No. 1, Calcium Lake is the calcium salt form of FD&C Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue), a synthetic blue colorant approved by the FDA for use in food and beverages. It provides stable blue coloring in a variety of food products and is widely used in confectionery, beverages, and other processed foods.
Full profileFD&C Blue No. 2, also known as indigo carmine, is a synthetic blue colorant approved by the FDA for use in foods, beverages, and drugs. It is used to impart or enhance blue coloring in various food products and has no recorded adverse events or recalls in FDA databases.
Full profileFD&C Blue No. 2, Calcium Lake is a synthetic colorant approved by the FDA for use in foods and beverages to provide blue coloring. It is the calcium salt form of FD&C Blue No. 2 (Indigo Carmine) and is used to achieve consistent blue hues in various food products.
Full profileFD&C Red No. 40, also known as Allura Red AC, is a synthetic azo dye approved by the FDA as a food colorant. It is widely used to impart red and pink hues to beverages, candies, baked goods, and other processed foods.
Full profileFD&C Red No. 40, Aluminum Lake is a synthetic colorant created by combining FD&C Red No. 40 dye with aluminum hydroxide. It is widely used in the food industry to impart red coloring to beverages, candies, baked goods, and other processed foods.
Full profileFD&C Red No. 40, Calcium Lake is the calcium salt form of FD&C Red No. 40 (Allura Red AC), a synthetic azo dye used as a colorant in food products. It provides a bright red color to beverages, candies, baked goods, and other processed foods.
Full profileFD&C Yellow No. 5, also known as tartrazine, is a synthetic azo dye approved by the FDA as a food colorant. It is widely used to impart yellow or greenish hues to beverages, baked goods, confections, and other processed foods.
Full profileFD&C Yellow No. 5, Aluminum Lake is a synthetic colorant made by combining FD&C Yellow No. 5 dye with aluminum hydroxide. It is used in food products to provide yellow coloring and is approved by the FDA for use in specified food categories.
Full profileFD&C Yellow No. 5, Calcium Lake is a yellow colorant used in food and beverages to enhance visual appeal. It is the calcium salt form of FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine), designed for applications where a lake pigment is preferred over the water-soluble dye.
Full profileFD&C Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) is a synthetic azo dye colorant approved by the FDA for use in foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. It is primarily used to impart yellow to orange coloring in processed foods and is one of the most widely used synthetic food dyes in North America.
Full profileFD&C Yellow No. 6, Aluminum Lake is a synthetic colorant derived from FD&C Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) bonded to aluminum hydroxide. It is used primarily to provide yellow coloring to food and beverage products.
Full profileFD&C Yellow No. 6, Calcium Lake is a synthetic colorant approved by the FDA for use in food products to provide yellow coloring. It is the calcium salt form of FD&C Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) and is used to enhance the visual appeal of various food and beverage products.
Full profileFD&C Red No. 3 Calcium Lake is a delisted synthetic colorant that was previously approved by the FDA for use in food and pharmaceuticals. It was removed from the approved color additives list due to regulatory changes rather than safety concerns, with no recorded adverse events or recalls.
Full profileFDA Dye Phase-Out (2025)
In early 2025, the FDA announced a plan to phase out all remaining petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the US food supply. Red Dye No. 3 (erythrosine) was revoked in January 2025 with a 2027–2028 compliance deadline. Additional dye revocations are expected. This does not constitute an immediate ban — products with these dyes remain on shelves until the compliance deadlines pass.
Preservatives & Other Additives of Concern
Beyond dyes — preservatives and sweeteners with pediatric-specific concerns.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener derived from corn starch through enzymatic processing, containing approximately 55% fructose and 42% glucose. It is widely used in beverages, baked goods, and processed foods as a cost-effective alternative to sucrose.
Full profileBetter Alternatives
Instead of
FD&C dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5/6, Blue 1)
Look for
Beet juice, turmeric, paprika extract, annatto, spirulina
EU-compliant brands already use these in reformulated products sold in Europe.
Instead of
Sodium benzoate
Look for
Rosemary extract, vitamin E (tocopherols), ascorbic acid
Common in preserved fruit drinks. Vitamin C-preserved juices are widely available.
Instead of
BHA / BHT
Look for
Mixed tocopherols (vitamin E), rosemary extract
Many major cereal brands have removed BHT from their formulations in response to consumer pressure.
Instead of
Sodium nitrite in deli meats
Look for
Celery powder (contains natural nitrates), uncured meats
"Uncured" labeling means no added sodium nitrite. Note: celery-cured products still contain nitrates derived from celery.
EU Warning Labels — What They Say
Since 2010, EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 requires all foods containing any of the Southampton Six dyes to carry the following mandatory warning on the label:
"May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children."
This warning applies to: Sunset Yellow (E110 / Yellow 6), Quinoline Yellow (E104), Carmoisine (E122), Allura Red (E129 / Red 40), Tartrazine (E102 / Yellow 5), and Ponceau 4R (E124). The FDA declined to require similar labeling following a 2011 Food Advisory Committee review, though that decision is under re-evaluation as part of the broader dye phase-out process.
Look up any additive in the full database
3,972 FDA-listed substances with safety ratings, regulatory status, and adverse event data.
Medical Disclaimer
This guide presents publicly available regulatory and scientific data for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and does not substitute for consultation with a qualified pediatrician or registered dietitian. Dietary decisions for children should be made in partnership with your child's healthcare provider. Data sourced from FDA, EFSA, and peer-reviewed literature as of April 2026.