Allura Red

Identifiers

INS No. 129
FD&C Red No. 40
E129
CI Food Red 17
CAS No. 25956-17-6

Physical Description

Allura red occurs as a red-brown powder or granule. It is a monoazo dye, consisting mainly of disodium 6-hydroxy-5-(2-methoxy-5-methyl-4-sulfonato-phenylazo)-2-naphthalene-sulfonate and subsidiary coloring matter together with sodium chloride and/or sodium sulfate as the principal uncolored components and may be converted to the corresponding aluminum lake.

Common Uses

Allura red can be used for coloring food, drugs, and cosmetics, including beverages, frozen treats, powder mixes, gelatin products, candies, icings, jellies, spices, dressings, sauces, baked goods and dairy products.

Specifications

JECFA 

US FDA

EU Commission

Codex GSFA Provisions

Allura red AC (INS No. 129) is added to foods and beverages at concentrations up to a maximum permitted level (MPL) as adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. There are more than 50 food categories for which MPLs for Allura Red have been adopted in the General Standard of Food Additives.

Regulatory Approvals

JECFA: ADI of 0-7 mg/kg bw (82nd Report, 2016)

USA: FD&C Red No. 40 and FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake are subject to certification and may be safely used for coloring foods (including dietary supplements) (21 CFR 74.340),  drugs (21 CFR 74.1340) and cosmetics (21 CFR 74.2340), in amounts consistent with GMP. FD&C Red No. 40 was first permanently listed as a color allowed in food and drugs requiring certification in 1971. The regulation has since been updated to expand the allowance to include lakes (1971), cosmetics (1974) and to amend the drug and cosmetic listing (1994).

EU: ADI of 0-7 mg/kg body weight (EFSA, 2009); EFSA has also established MPLs for use of Allura red AC in specific foods and beverages in Europe.

Safety Reviews

Lack of genotoxicity in vivo for food color additive Allura Red AC, Food & Chemical Toxicology, 2017. Available online

Safety evaluation of certain food additives (82nd Meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) WHO Food Additives Series No. 73, 2017. 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