| MadSci Network: Other |
Hi Elyse,
No, in general Yellow No.5 is not harmful to your health. It is a yellow dye that is known by several names. Its common chemical name is tartrazine. Its official full chemical name is 3-carboxy-5-hydroxy-1-p-sulfophenyl-4-p-sulfo- phenyl-azopyrazole trisodium salt; now that certainly sounds like it could be bad for you. But its most familiar name is FD&C (Food, Drug and Cosmetic) Yellow No.5. Use of this dye in food is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has determined that FD&C Yellow No.5 is safe for almost everyone in the amounts that are allowed to be added to food. Just in case something might have been missed, the FDA also has a system to monitor reports from people or their doctors to investigate and keep track of complaints about foods that contain additives.
Now, rarely is it safe to say that a chemical is completely safe for everyone. The best guess at this time is that one or two out of every 10,000 people may have a reaction to the amount of FD&C Yellow No.5 that is used in food. When this occurs, the reaction is typically hives, a type of itchy skin rash that usually goes away in a day or two. It is also hard to prove what really causes such rashes or if they will happen the next time the person eats the same food.
That is one reason that the FDA insists that all dyes and other supplements added to food be listed on the label. If someone suspects that he or she has a bad reaction to a dye like FD&C Yellow No.5, they can avoid it by checking the label of any new food they try.
Why add dye to food at all? Mostly to make it look better so it can be enjoyed more.
You might like to read more about this. The International Food Information Council Foundation has a nice description of Food Color Facts that also has links to more information. Or try FOOD ALLERGIES: RARE BUT RISKY, an FDA site that provides more background.
Enjoy your popcorn
Joe Miletich