Allura Red
FD&C Red No. 40
INS No. 129
E129
EINECS No. 247-368-0
CAS No. 25956-17-6
CI Food Red 17
CI No. 16035
Food Red No. 40
Allura red is principally the disodium salt of 6-hydroxy-5-[(2-methoxy-5-methyl-4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid. Allura red is an orange red dye that has a red to brownish shade in applications.
Allura red is used in cereal, beverages, gelatins, puddings, dairy products, frozen treats, powder mixes, icings, jellies, spices, dressings, sauces, baked goods and confections. FD&C Red No. 40 is also used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
US FDA
JECFA (2016)
EU defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012
Allura red is added to foods and beverages at concentrations up to a maximum permitted level (MPL) in more than 50 food categories as established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and published in the General Standard of Food Additives (GSFA).
Allura red is a monoazo dye that is widely used as a synthetic food color in many countries around the world. It was evaluated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives in 1981 and re-evaluated in 2016. It has also been evaluated by the EU Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) in 1984 and 1989 and by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2009, 2012, and 2013. An Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0-7 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day was established by JECFA in 1981, and during its re-evaluation of the color in 2016, JECFA concluded that new data that became available since its last evaluation do not give reason to revise the ADI and confirmed the ADI of 0–7 mg/kg bw. This ADI has also been maintained by the European review committees.
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) (2016) JECFA 82nd Report. Evaluation of certain food additives. WHO Technical Report Series, No. 1000. Available online
EFSA ANS Panel (2009) Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Allura Red AC (E 129) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 7(11), 1327-66. Available online