Red dye 40, also known as Allura Red AC, is a synthetic food coloring agent that is used to add red hues to foods and drinks. It is one of the most widely used food dyes and can be found in many common products, including some flavored Doritos chips like Cool Ranch.
What is red dye 40?
Red dye 40 is a petroleum-derived red azo dye that goes by the chemical name disodium 6-hydroxy-5-[(2-methoxy-5-methyl-4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenesulfonate. It is approved by the FDA for use in foods, drugs, and cosmetics.
Some key facts about red dye 40:
- Gives foods and drinks a bright red color
- Made from petroleum
- Approved for use in foods, drugs, and cosmetics
- Also known as Allura Red AC
- Water-soluble synthetic dye
Red dye 40 was introduced for commercial use in the United States in the 1950s. It is now one of the most widely used food colorings in the world.
Is red dye 40 allowed in foods?
Yes, red dye 40 is FDA approved and classified as a color additive for use in foods, drugs, and other products. The FDA places strict limits on how much can be used and requires warning labels on products with more than a specified amount.
The FDA allows up to 50 mg of red dye 40 per kg of food product. Warning labels are required when the concentration exceeds 100 mg per kg.
All food dyes, including red dye 40, must undergo safety testing before being approved by the FDA. The agency continues to monitor research on synthetic food dyes and their potential health risks.
Is red dye 40 safe?
According to the FDA and other food safety agencies, red dye 40 is considered safe at approved levels in food and beverage products. But there are some concerns and controversies around this artificial coloring.
Potential health risks
Some research indicates there may be potential health risks associated with red dye 40 at high doses:
- May cause allergic reactions in some people
- Hyperactivity in children
- DNA damage at high doses in animal studies
- Increased adrenal gland tumor rate in animal studies
However, the FDA reviews all available safety studies and has concluded that there is not sufficient evidence that red dye 40 causes these effects in humans at approved use levels. More research is still needed.
Banned in some countries
While red dye 40 is legal in the U.S. and many other countries, it has been banned or restricted in some places due to health concerns:
- Banned in Sweden
- Banned in Switzerland
- Restricted in Norway and Austria
The European Union requires warning labels on foods containing certain artificial food dyes including red dye 40.
Natural vs. synthetic argument
Some health advocates argue that artificial food dyes like red dye 40 are unnecessary and that natural color alternatives should be used instead. There is a concern that frequent consumption of synthetic dyes may have unintended health effects.
But the FDA and food manufacturers believe that red dye 40 and other approved food dyes are safe and allow vibrant colors in foods that would be difficult to achieve naturally.
Is red dye 40 in Cool Ranch Doritos?
Yes, red dye 40 is used to give Cool Ranch Doritos their distinctive reddish-purple color.
According to the Frito-Lay website, these are the ingredients in original Cool Ranch Doritos:
Ingredients:
- Corn, vegetable oil (corn, canola, and/or sunflower oil), maltodextrin (made from corn), and less than 2% of the following: salt, corn bran, whey, cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), monosodium glutamate, buttermilk, romano cheese (part skim cow’s milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), whey protein concentrate, onion powder, partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil, garlic powder, lactose, natural and artificial flavor, dextrose, tomato powder, spices, lactic acid, artificial color (including red 40, yellow 6, yellow 5), citric acid, sugar, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate.
As you can see, red dye 40 is listed along with some other artificial colors. It’s one of the ingredients that gives Cool Ranch Doritos their unique purple-ish red color.
Many other popular Doritos flavors also contain red dye 40 according to the Frito-Lay website, including Nacho Cheese Doritos. But some flavored Doritos do not contain any artificial colors, like the Sweet Chili flavor.
So in summary – yes, regular Cool Ranch flavored Doritos do contain red dye 40 as an ingredient, along with other artificial colors. The artificial dyes provide the distinctive reddish coloring that Cool Ranch Doritos are known for.
Should you be concerned about red dye 40 in Doritos?
The amount of red dye 40 in a serving of Cool Ranch Doritos falls well below the FDA’s permitted levels for food products. So according to government safety regulations, the amount in Doritos is not a health concern.
But some nutrition advocates recommend avoiding artificial food dyes when possible. While the science is still inconclusive on if dyes like red dye 40 directly cause negative health effects, there are a few reasons you may want to limit them:
- Possible allergen – some people are sensitive to artificial food dyes
- Hyperactivity in children – some studies link dyes to behavioral issues in kids
- Nutrient void – dyes add color but no nutritional value
- Unnecessary – natural color alternatives exist
The European Union has stricter regulations on food dyes which suggests increased caution may be warranted.
Ultimately it’s up to you to decide if you want to avoid products containing red dye 40 and other artificial colors. Cool Ranch Doritos without dyes are not available, so your options are to either enjoy them in moderation or choose not to eat them if you’re concerned about food dyes.
Should red dye 40 be banned?
There is some debate around whether red dye 40 and other synthetic food dyes should be banned due to potential health risks. But there are reasonable arguments on both sides:
Arguments for banning red dye 40
- Possible links to hyperactivity and other behavioral issues in children
- Small risk of cancer according to some animal studies
- Unnecessary since natural color alternatives exist
- Europe takes a more precautionary approach by banning some dyes
Arguments against banning red dye 40
- No definitive evidence it causes harm to humans at approved doses
- Strictly regulated and continuously evaluated for safety by the FDA
- Banning could negatively impact food companies and consumers who want bright colors
- Natural alternatives are not always feasible, stable, or affordable
More independent, long-term human studies on food dye risks are needed for regulators to make an informed decision on whether to ban specific dyes. Given the current evidence, there does not appear to be enough data for food safety agencies like the FDA to justify completely banning red dye 40 at this time.
But increased restrictions and requirements for warning labels may be reasonable precautions to help inform consumers and monitor any potential risks. The FDA continues to closely monitor new research on food dyes to re-evaluate the approved levels and safety.
Conclusion
Red dye 40 is an artificial coloring widely used in many foods and drinks, including Cool Ranch flavored Doritos chips. While permitted and considered safe by regulators at current levels, red dye 40 remains controversial.
Ongoing scientific studies analyzing any links to hyperactivity, cancer, and other health effects will help determine if stricter regulations or warning labels are warranted. Consumers who wish to avoid artificial food dyes like red dye 40 can check ingredient labels and choose products without them. But there are no versions of classic Cool Ranch Doritos without red dye 40.
In the U.S., products containing red dye 40 in amounts above regulated thresholds are required to list warnings on labels. But the levels in most foods and drinks, including Cool Ranch Doritos, remain well below those limits.
Given the lack of definitive evidence of harm to humans, a ban seems unlikely at this time according to the FDA and food safety organizations. However, more long-term human studies are needed to better understand the impacts of synthetic food dyes and make fully informed regulation decisions to balance safety with consumer preferences.