Foods Containing E110 (Sunset Yellow FCF)
E110 (Sunset Yellow FCF) is a synthetic orange-yellow dye that must carry a hyperactivity warning label in the EU and UK. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E110
E110 is used across sweets, soft drinks, desserts, ice cream, sauces and snacks. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Orange squash and soft drinks
- Sweets
- Marzipan
- Packet soups
- Jelly
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E110 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E110" or as "Sunset Yellow FCF".
How to spot E110 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "food colourings: E110" or "food colourings: sunset yellow fcf". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Sunset Yellow FCF" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E110?
E110 is approved for use in the EU, UK and US at regulated levels, but some concerns or conditions apply. Sunset Yellow FCF is one of the 'Southampton Six' colours linked to hyperactivity in some children: in the EU and UK, foods containing it must carry the warning 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'. For most people, normal dietary exposure to E110 is not considered harmful.
Full guide to E110: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).