Allura red

Studies in people

• Concern

  Blood pressure risk¹

  In people who often ate Chinese dishes, higher urinary Allura red was linked to high blood pressure, though the link was uncertain.

Animal and lab studies only

• Concern

  Gut inflammation risk⁴

  In mice, long-term Allura Red AC made gut inflammation worse, but scientists do not yet know whether it affects people.

• No harm found

  Gut bacteria and cell damage⁵

  In lab studies, allura red did not damage gut cells or change gut bacteria after short exposure.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Colon and rectal cancer risk²

  Scientists do not yet know whether Allura Red AC affects colon health, though it interacts with inflammation, DNA damage and gut bacteria.

• Concern

  Allergies and other health effects³

  Allura red is a dye in drinks, sweets and baked goods, and some people report allergies or food intolerance after eating it.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.

Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.

• UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 2016

  Acceptable daily intake: up to 7 mg per kg of body weight.