Number: E129
Name: Allura Red
Other names: Cl 16035, Red No. 17, FD&C Red 40
Function: Colour
Description: red colour
Origin: Synthetic azo dye
Application
- restricted use in confectionery and meat products
Daily intake: up to 7 mg/kg body weight
Side effects:
- it appears to cause allergic or intolerant reactions, particularly amongst those with an aspirin intolerance and asthma sufferers
- it is a histamine liberator and may intensify symptoms of asthma
- in combination with benzoates, it is also implicated in hyperactivity in children
- may well bring about anaemia and it is possibly mutagenic
Curiosities:
- can be consumed by all religious groups, vegans and vegetarians
- allura Red is a very popular dye throughout the world, annual production in 1980 was greater than 2.3 million kilograms
- very soluble in water
