April 9, 2026
What Food Additives Should I Avoid the Most?
This guide breaks down the top 5 food additives with the strongest evidence of harm so you can avoid them to eat cleaner and feel better.
Red 40
Flavors + Colors
- Potentially Harmful
Definition
Red 40 (Allura Red) is a dark red synthetic dye made from petroleum and used in cereal, candies, drinks and condiments. It is one of the most used and most controversial artificial colorings.
Also Known As
Red #40, RED NO. 40, Red 40 Lake, allura red, Allura red AC
Health Impact
Some people, especially children, may be sensitive to food dyes, and have experienced allergic reactions when consuming them. Artificial food dyes have also been linked to increased behavioral problems in children, especially those with ADHD, because they may cause chemical changes in the brain, inflammation, and depletion of minerals that are important to growth and development.
Sources
- Potential impacts of synthetic food dyes on activity and attention in children: a review of the human and animal evidence
BioMed Central (BMC)
- Artificial Food Colors and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Symptoms: Conclusions to Dye for
US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health
- Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risk
Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Mechanisms of behavioral, atopic, and other reactions to artificial food colors in children
Pub Med
- Color Additives Questions and Answers for Consumers
Food and Drug Administration
- Artificial colorings (synthetic food dyes)
Center for Science in the Public Interest
