1. Sunset Yellow FCF
By David Folland 10.3

2. Chemical Nomenclature
Disodium 6-hydroxy-5-[(4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalene sulfonate
Food Additive 110 (E110)
Food Drug & Cosmetics – Yellow 6
CAS Registry Number
Chemical Formula - C16H10N2Na2O7S2
Molecular Weight g/mol

3. Structure

4. Chemistry Orange-Red Crystals
Contains hydroxyl (alcohol), sulfonate, azo (Nitrogen double bond) and aromatic functional groups
The azo group gives colour to many compounds
The hydroxyl and sulfonate groups (and the sodium ion) increase water solubility
Produce Yellow colour in solution of water or ethanol
Decomposes without melting at 390C
When it decomposes it releases oxides of sulfur and nitrogen

5. Production
The colour additive is manufactured by adding a Nitrogen-nitrogen double bond to 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid using hydrochloric acid and sodium nitrite or sulfuric acid and sodium nitrite.
This compound is coupled with 6-hydroxy-2-naphthalene-sulfonic acid.
The dye is isolated as the sodium salt and dried.

6. Uses
Sunset yellow is used in a range of foods and drink including cakes, icecream, soft drink, cordial and flavoured milks.
It is estimated that the average Australian consumes about 1 mg /day with 90% of people eating less than 3.5 mg/day.
Some Australian soft drinks can have up to 100mg/kg of Sunset Yellow FCF
A 25g bottle of Sunset Yellow FCF costs approximately A$50
It is also used in cosmetics

7. Health Effects Sunset Yellow FCF is not a carcinogen
It has been suggested that a diet containing Sunset Yellow FCF, other synthetic dyes and sodium benzoate increases hyperactivity
Very high doses (100x the Australian limit) can cause effects to the testes and lipid levels in rats
The Australian Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is 2.5 mg/kg bw/day
The European Food Standards Authority ADI has recently been reduced to 1mg/kg bw/day

8. Conclusion
Sunset Yellow FCF or additive 110 is a sodium salt of a sulfonated azo aromatic hydrocarbon
In small amounts Sunset Yellow FCF is safe
There are some concerns about health influences
Most people are well below the advisable intake
Like most food additives it should be taken in moderation

9. References
American Chemical Society, 2014, Substance Details - CAS Registry Number: , Online viewed 5th May
EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to food, 2009, Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Sunset Yellow FCF (E 110) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 2009; Vol 7 Number pp, Online:
Food Standards Australia New Zealand, 2008, Survey of Added Colours in Foods Available in Australia, Online viewed 5th May
Food Standards Australia New Zealand, 2012, Food Additives-Numerical List, Online viewed 10th April
Miansari66, 2011, Food Colour SSY, Online viewed 5th May
National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2013, F D and C Yellow Number 6, Online viewed 5th May
Sigma-Aldrich, 2014, Sunset Yellow FCF, Online viewed 5th May.