Ingredient

Why Yellow 6 is Bad for You

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Yellow 6, also known as Sunset Yellow FCF, is a synthetic orange-yellow azo dye made from petroleum. It is a common food additive used to impart a vibrant orange-yellow color to various food and drink products.

Why it’s in your food

The manufacturer’s reason.

Food manufacturers use Yellow 6 to achieve appealing orange-yellow shades in their products, enhance visual consistency, and make items more attractive to consumers.

Community scan data

How it shows up in the wild.

Found in 4 productswe’ve analyzed.

0

Rated Clean

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Caution

4

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Where to find it

Products containing Yellow 6.

4 products in our database.

POST CONSUMER BRANDS, LLC

Pebbles Cereal

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Full of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives!

CEREAL15/23 clean · Apr 15, 2026

Kellogg Sales Co

Pop-Tarts

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Artificial dyes and enriched flour make this product RED.

OTHER17/34 clean · Apr 20, 2026

Unknown

Cereal

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Artificial colors and enriched flour are no good!

CEREAL14/23 clean · Apr 20, 2026

Mondelez Global LLC

Sour Patch Kids

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Artificial colors and flavors, corn syrup!

CANDY4/13 clean · Apr 20, 2026

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

How is Yellow 6 produced?▾
Yellow 6 is a synthetic dye, meaning it's chemically manufactured in a lab. It originates from petroleum and is not a natural substance found in foods, differentiating it from colors derived from ingredients like carrots or turmeric.
What types of foods commonly contain Yellow 6?▾
You can find Yellow 6 in a wide array of processed items, including soft drinks, orange-flavored beverages, candies, snack foods, cereals, and some dairy products. Its bright color is particularly popular in products seeking an orange hue.
Would Nonna recognize Yellow 6 as a food ingredient?▾
No, Nonna would not recognize Yellow 6. She would typically use natural ingredients like carrots, pumpkins, or a touch of saffron to achieve orange-yellow colors in her cooking. A synthetic, petroleum-derived coloring agent would be completely foreign to her traditional kitchen.

Check your own pantry.

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