Red 40 (also known as Allura Red AC or E129) is banned in several European countries, including Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and Austria. Outside of these outright bans, many other countries allow Red 40 but place restrictions on how it can be used, particularly in foods marketed to children.
Countries With Outright Bans
The following countries have fully banned Red 40 as a food colorant:
- Denmark
- Belgium
- France
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Austria
Norway had a separate ban in place from 1978 to 2001. During that period, synthetic azo dyes like Red 40 were only legally permitted in alcoholic beverages and certain fish products. Norway has since lifted that blanket ban.
Why Some EU Countries Ban It While the EU Allows It
This is where things get confusing. The European Union does approve Red 40 (listed as E129) as a food colorant at the EU level. However, EU regulations allow individual member states to preserve their own local laws banning specific food dyes. That’s why France and Germany can ban Red 40 even though the EU as a whole permits it. A product legally sold in one EU country may not be legal in another.
Across the entire EU, any food or drink containing Red 40 must carry a mandatory warning label stating: “May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” This requirement applies in every EU member state, including those that haven’t enacted full bans. The warning stems from a 2007 study by researchers at Southampton University that linked mixtures of synthetic food dyes, Red 40 among them, to increased hyperactivity in some children. The European Food Safety Authority reviewed the study and found the evidence “limited,” noting the effects were small and inconsistent. Still, the EU moved forward with the labeling requirement as a precaution.
In practice, the warning label has had a powerful market effect. Many European food manufacturers have voluntarily reformulated their products to use natural colorants, simply to avoid printing a hyperactivity warning on their packaging. This is why many candies, cereals, and soft drinks sold in Europe use beet juice, paprika extract, or turmeric instead of Red 40, even in countries where the dye remains technically legal.
The United Kingdom’s Approach
The UK has not formally banned Red 40, but it is one of six artificial food dyes that must carry the same hyperactivity warning label. The UK’s Food Standards Agency funded research into the link between synthetic food colors and hyperactivity in children and concluded that consuming certain artificial dyes could increase hyperactivity in some children. Foods containing Red 40 sold in the UK must display: “May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” As in the EU, this warning has pushed most major UK food brands to stop using Red 40 voluntarily, making it rare on British store shelves even without a legal ban.
Red 40 in the United States
The United States has no federal ban on Red 40. The Food and Drug Administration approves it for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics, and it remains one of the most widely used synthetic dyes in American products. Red 40 appears in everything from sports drinks and candy to medications and salad dressings.
State-level action is starting to change the picture, though. California passed AB 2316, which prohibits schools from serving or selling foods containing certain synthetic food dye additives, including Red 40, that have been linked to health harms in children such as neurobehavioral issues and hyperactivity. In early 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom also issued an executive order directing further investigation into food dyes and a broader crackdown on ultra-processed foods. Other states have introduced similar legislation, but California’s is the most significant to date.
How Other Countries Handle Red 40
Most countries outside Europe and North America permit Red 40 but set limits on how much can be added to specific food categories. The Codex Alimentarius, the international food standards body run by the FAO and WHO, establishes maximum levels that many countries use as a baseline. These limits vary by product type: up to 300 mg/kg in breakfast cereals, chewing gum, and dairy desserts, but only 25 mg/kg in processed meat products. Flavored drinks are capped at 100 to 150 mg/kg depending on the type. Countries like Japan, Canada, Australia, and most of South America allow Red 40 within these or similar limits.
The global trend is clearly moving toward tighter regulation. Even where Red 40 remains legal, the combination of warning labels, school bans, and consumer pressure is steadily shrinking its presence in food products. If you’re trying to avoid it, checking ingredient labels for “Red 40,” “Allura Red AC,” “FD&C Red No. 40,” or “E129” will help you spot it regardless of which country you’re shopping in.