E124 food dye: Ponceau 4R linked to brain issues in kids and cancer risk

Ponceau 4R is used to produce various colors

Every customer who visits the store is enticed by bright shades. Colorful jelly desserts, bright gummies, sweet drinks, beautiful confectionery, and other food products catch the eye, making it difficult for many, especially children, to resist. The human body is designed such that vision sends signals to the brain, triggering reactions.

For instance, the red color of a product can evoke memories of strawberries, recalling their unique taste and aroma. Similarly, a lemon-like yellow color can stimulate saliva production as if one were eating lemon slices. The secret of bright sweets and other products is simple—they are designed to attract attention, using food coloring that can be harmful to health.

One such dye is E124. It is a synthetic dark red food coloring widely used in the food industry to enhance the appearance of various products. Although E124 makes food look more appealing, its history is controversial due to its potentially harmful effects on human health. Some countries have banned this substance, yet E124 continues to be used successfully in the European Union.

E124, also known as Ponceau 4R, Red Ponceau, or Cochineal Red A, was first synthesized in 1881 by the German chemist Carl Gräbe. Usually, it is made from coal tar.

This synthetic color has been widely used in the food industry since the 1950s. E124 dye is used not only separately but also mixed with others, creating a palette of various shades. For example, adding orange gives a brown color, and mixing it with blue gives a purple color. Therefore, many food products contain multiple dyes that are not beneficial to health.

E124's serious harm: negative effects on the brain, hyperactivity in children, and increased cancer risk

This synthetic color is found almost everywhere. E124 is widely used in confectionery and beverage production and is even present in canned fruits. Children eagerly grab brightly colored candies or gummies, which are full of dyes.

Surprisingly, even seemingly unrelated food products like fish, meat products, milk desserts, and cottage cheese products often contain E124, as indicated on their labels. Medicines and vitamins may also be colored with synthetic dyes because colorful pills are more appealing than plain white ones.

E124, like many other dyes, is also added to non-edible but frequently used products such as cosmetics, liquid detergents (shampoos, liquid soap, shower gel, bath foam), and even silk or woolen goods.

However, despite its widespread use, the harm of E124 has been known for years, with alarming evidence growing almost annually. This food additive is already on the list of dyes that increase hyperactivity in children^[1]. Many other dyes, such as E102 and E122, also promote hyperactivity.

This chemical component can negatively affect brain development in young children^[2], who are particularly drawn to brightly colored sweets. Therefore, parents should carefully monitor their children's food, choosing more natural products and preparing food themselves whenever possible.

Additionally, a link between this synthetic color and tumors in rodents has been observed. Although there isn't enough evidence to confidently state that E124 causes malignant tumors, studies increasingly show that long-term exposure to E124 is serious and associated with increased cancer risk.

Moreover, Ponceau 4R can cause allergic reactions or provoke stronger asthma attacks. For some individuals, this component can be such a strong allergen that it causes anaphylactic shock when consumed in large quantities. Thus, people with various allergies, aspirin intolerance, or asthma should be extremely careful and read food labels.

The ban on E124 in some countries

The European Food Safety Authority does not yet recognize that E124 food coloring is too harmful and should be banned throughout the European Union. In 2009, the agency re-examined studies on the health effects of Ponceau 4R but maintained that the dye was reasonably safe. However, despite claims that there is no need to worry about the harm of E124, the European Food Safety Authority reduced the acceptable daily dietary intake from 4 to 0.7 mg per kilogram of body weight.

Notably, some countries have officially recognized the harm of Ponceau 4R for several years. In the USA, Finland, Norway, and other countries, E124 is listed as a carcinogen that can cause cancer^[3]. Unfortunately, in many European Union countries, this food additive continues to be used, with labels indicating that it can cause hyperactivity and negatively affect children's concentration.

Why do food manufacturers continue to use Ponceau 4R? The appeal of this component for food manufacturers lies in its properties. E124 is resistant to heat, sunlight, freezing, sterilization, pasteurization, and cooling. It maintains the product's color under any circumstances, making this food coloring suitable for almost all products and storage conditions.

There are no health benefits of E124. It is added to food solely for visual appeal—a marketing move by manufacturers to sell more products.

Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Take a few seconds to familiarize yourself with the ingredients listed on the label. If the ingredients include food dyes such as E124, consider avoiding the product and opting for a healthier alternative, or consume such foods in moderation.