Color Additive 

Color Additives Permitted for Direct Addition to Human Food in the United States 

Certifiable Colors: 

  • FD&C Blue No. 1 (Dye and Lake) 
  • FD&C Blue No. 2 (Dye and Lake) 
  • FD&C Green No. 3 (Dye and Lake) 
  • FD&C Red No. 3 (Dye) 
  • FD&C Red No. 40 (Dye and Lake) 
  • FD&C Yellow No. 5 (Dye and Lake) 
  • FD&C Yellow No. 6 (Dye and Lake) 
  • Orange B* 
  • Citrus Red No. 2* 

Colors Exempt from Certification: 

  • Annatto extract 
  • B-Apo-8(-c+arotenal* 
  • Beta-carotene 
  • Beet powder 
  • Canthaxanthin 
  • Caramel color 
  • Carrot oil 
  • Cochineal extract (carmine) 
  • Cottonseed flour, toasted partially defatted, cooked 
  • Ferrous gluconate* 
  • Fruit juice 
  • Grape color extract* (enocianina) 
  • Paprika 
  • Paprika oleoresin 
  • Riboflavin 
  • Saffron 
  • Titanium dioxide* 
  • Turmeric 
  • Turmeric oleoresin 
  • Vegetable juice 

Note: *These food color additives are restricted to specified uses.