Quinoline yellow
A synthetic yellow dye. Linked to hyperactivity in children, so the EU requires a warning label.
- Category
- Colours
- Acceptable daily intake
- 0.5 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA)
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
Quinoline Yellow (E104) is a bright, synthetic yellow-green food dye. It belongs to a group of colourants that have faced intense scrutiny over behavioural effects in children.
How it is used in food
Gives foods a yellow colour.
Commonly found in- Soft drinks and cordials
- Sweets and chewing gum
- Smoked haddock (historically)
Health and safety
May cause intolerance reactions, and can contribute to hyperactivity in sensitive children.
E104 is one of the "Southampton Six" — a group of artificial dyes associated with increased hyperactivity and reduced attention span in children.
Hyperactivity in children
Linked to increased hyperactivity and reduced attention in children in the 2007 Southampton trial, which tested it in a mixture with sodium benzoate. EFSA did not accept a causal link for the individual colour, but the EU legislated a mandatory warning label anyway.
EFSA re-evaluated it in 2009 and lowered the ADI to 0.5 mg/kg body weight per day.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted without warning labels. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Permitted, warning label required | Authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, but Annex V requires the warning statement on any food containing it. “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children” |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Not approved | Never approved as a food colour in the US. (Quinoline Yellow is permitted in drugs and cosmetics as D&C Yellow No. 10.) |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E104
- Colour index
- 47005
Also printed asFood Yellow 13
Alternatives to this additive
- E100: Curcumin — A plant-derived yellow from turmeric with no hyperactivity warning attached, though it carries its own 3 mg/kg ADI.
How it is made
It is a petrochemical derivative synthesized from quinoline and phthalic anhydride.
- Synthesis — Produced chemically from coal tar derivatives.
Worth knowing
One of the six colours in the Southampton study on children's behaviour.
Conclusion
Due to the hyperactivity link, any food containing E104 in the EU must carry a mandatory warning label stating: "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". Because of this, it is actively being phased out by most major food manufacturers in favour of natural colours like Curcumin (E100). It is completely banned in food in the United States and Japan.
References
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