Sunset Yellow FCF is a synthetic azo dye with a warm orange-yellow colour. It carries INS number 110 and E number E110, and in the United States it is known as FD&C Yellow No. 6. Codex lists it as a colour. Because it dissolves readily in water, it mixes easily into doughs, creams and sugar coatings, and it is often combined with other dyes to fine-tune a shade.
In snacks it supplies the orange of fruit-flavoured creams, seasoned crackers and coated sweets. Examples reviewed here include the Violet Orange Flavoured Wafer and Fashion Food’s Tomato Flavoured Cracker, where it sits next to paprika oleoresin.
JECFA has evaluated sunset yellow, and it is permitted in Thailand and many other countries. It is one of the six Southampton study colours, so foods sold in the EU that contain it must state that it “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”.
