Allura Red AC
E129
E129, INS 129, allura red AC, allura red, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Red 40, Red 40
What it is
Allura Red AC (E129 / INS 129) is a synthetic red colour used to give foods and drinks a red or reddish appearance.
Why BOTIA flags it
Allura Red is a synthetic red colour. In the EU, foods containing it must carry a warning that it may affect activity and attention in children. That warning comes from the 2007 Southampton study, which tested mixtures of several colours together with sodium benzoate — not Allura Red on its own. JECFA set an ADI of 0–7 mg/kg body weight and concluded that estimated dietary exposure was below that level.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect E129, INS 129, Allura Red AC, Red 40 and its other declared names in the ingredient list.
- Explain the EU activity-and-attention warning, where it came from and why the Southampton study cannot show that Allura Red alone caused the reported effect.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Determine how much Allura Red is present in a product from the ingredient list.
- Predict whether a particular child will show an effect or treat a study of additive mixtures as proof of an effect from Allura Red alone.