Tartrazine intake, intolerance reactions and toxicology in France
What it found
In France, children's highest estimated tartrazine intake was 37.2% of the daily limit set from animal studies.
Intolerance reactions are rare, affecting fewer than 0.12% of people, and mostly occur in those who already have hives or asthma.
What they found
Studies in people
Children's intake in France
For children in France, the highest estimated daily intake reached 37.2% of the limit. This figure represents the 97.5th percentile of exposure.
Intolerance is rare
Fewer than 0.12% of the general population is estimated to be intolerant to tartrazine. The link between eating it and having a reaction is often overstated, and scientists do not yet know exactly how these reactions happen.
Who reacts most
Intolerance reactions mainly happen in patients who already suffer from recurring hives or asthma.
Animal and lab studies
Daily limit from animals
A review of animal studies confirmed the daily intake limit set in 1964. That limit is 7.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.
Other findings
Missing labels on loose foods
People at risk usually read food labels to avoid tartrazine. But items like ice cream, desserts, cakes and fine bakery goods are often sold loose without any label.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that tartrazine does not represent a toxicological risk for consumers based on current intake levels.
- They note that proving a clear link between eating tartrazine and developing intolerance reactions remains difficult.
How it was done
The last major assessment of tartrazine was done in 1964, and many new studies have been published since then. Some of those newer studies linked tartrazine to food intolerance reactions, so the authors wanted to update the hazard review.
They reviewed published animal studies to check the existing daily intake limit. They also looked at data on how much tartrazine children in France might take in. Finally, they examined reports linking tartrazine to intolerance reactions in patients.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work reviews past studies rather than running new trials, so it cannot prove cause and effect on its own.
- Animal studies used to set the daily limit cannot show exactly what happens in people.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- French Food Safety Agency (Afssa), France
The paper
- Title
- New considerations regarding the risk assessment on Tartrazine An update toxicological assessment, intolerance reactions and maximum theoretical daily intake in France
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Elhkim MO, Héraud F, Bemrah N, et al (2007). New considerations regarding the risk assessment on Tartrazine An update toxicological assessment, intolerance reactions and maximum theoretical daily intake in France. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2006.11.004PubMed 17218045DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error