Is it ultra-processed?
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Tartrazine (E102)

Tartrazine (E102) is one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as ultra-processed (NOVA group 4).

What it is and why it counts

Tartrazine is a synthetic yellow azo dye (FD&C Yellow No. 5 in the US). In the EU, foods containing it must carry the warning "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children" (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008).

Cosmetic additives

NOVA calls these additives "cosmetic": they change how a product looks, feels or tastes rather than keeping it safe to eat. Their presence is one of the two defining signs of an ultra-processed food.

Function

Colour
Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.

Functional class definitions from the EU food additives regulation, via Open Food Facts.

More about tartrazine (E102) on Wikidata

Where it turns up

Tartrazine (E102) appears in 295 of the 40,000 products on this site (1%).

Products containing tartrazine (E102)

Showing the 60 most popular of 295.

How the NOVA classification works