Ponceau 4R (E124) — What You Need to Know
The score is an eNumbers.org editorial summary, not an official agency rating or medical advice. Start with the regulatory status and primary sources below.
What Is Ponceau 4R?
Ponceau 4R is a synthetic red azo dye used primarily in Europe as a food coloring. It produces a strawberry red shade and is commonly found in desserts, confectionery, and processed meats. It was one of the six dyes studied in the influential 2007 Southampton/McCann study that linked food dye mixtures to increased hyperactivity in children.
What Is It Used For?
Used as a red food coloring in dessert toppings, canned fruits, confectionery, sausages, and soft drinks, primarily in countries where it is still authorized. Not approved for use in the United States.
Exposure figures are population-level references, not personal limits. Actual intake varies by diet, product and jurisdiction.
Regulatory & Editorial Context
Ponceau 4R was included in the 2007 McCann/Southampton study that found food dye mixtures were associated with increased hyperactivity in children. As a result, the EU requires a mandatory warning label on products containing it: 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.' It is not approved for use in the United States and is banned in Norway and Finland. As an azo dye, it contains an azo group (-N=N-) that may theoretically be cleaved by intestinal bacteria to release aromatic amines, though the toxicological significance of this at normal dietary levels remains debated.
eNumbers.org currently assigns Ponceau 4R an editorial context label of Questionable with a score of 3/10. This is 2.8 points below the database average for colorings (5.8/10). Dataset reference year: 2009. The dataset's population estimate equals about 0.1% of the listed ADI.
This score is not issued by EFSA, FDA, WHO or another regulator.
Commonly Found In
Always check the label for E124 or 'Ponceau 4R'
▶Chemical Information
Frequently Asked Questions about Ponceau 4R
Quick Facts
- E-Number
- E124
- INS Number
- 124
- Category
- Colorings
- Origin
- Synthetic
- FDA Status
- Not approved
- EFSA Status
- Authorized (with mandatory warning label)
- ADI
- 4 mg/kg bw/day
- Dataset Review
- 2009
Carriers, processing aids and product certification can change suitability. Verify the final label and certifier.
Quick Links
Related Additives
Other colorings in the same family