E126 - Ponceau 6R

At a glance

Here is a quick look at what Ponceau 6R is and where it stands today.

• What it is: a synthetic red azo dye used as a colorant
• Typical role: provides a deep red hue; water‑soluble
• Approval: not authorized as a food color in the EU or the US
• Where you’ll see it: rarely in mainstream foods; may appear on older labels or imports from countries with different rules
• Common stand‑ins: other reds like Ponceau 4R, Allura Red AC, or natural colors such as beetroot red and anthocyanins

Why is Ponceau 6R added to food?

Manufacturers used Ponceau 6R to give foods a strong, bright red color because it dissolves in water and colors evenly. As an azo dye, it contains the azo bond (–N=N–), a common feature responsible for vivid color in many synthetic dyes.¹

What foods contain Ponceau 6R?

You will seldom find Ponceau 6R in foods sold in the EU or US today because it is not an approved food color in those regions. Historically, synthetic reds like this were used in sweets, drinks, dessert mixes, and similar products, but modern products typically use other approved reds instead.

What can replace Ponceau 6R?

Food makers usually switch to other red colorants that meet current rules and performance needs.

• Synthetic reds: Ponceau 4R, Allura Red AC, Azorubine, or Amaranth where permitted
• Natural reds: beetroot red, anthocyanins, paprika extract, or cochineal Choosing among them depends on label goals (synthetic vs. natural), shade, pH stability, and heat/light stability.

How is Ponceau 6R made?

Ponceau 6R is made by typical azo‑dye chemistry: an aromatic amine is diazotized and then coupled to another aromatic compound to form the characteristic azo (–N=N–) linkage, producing a water‑soluble red dye salt.¹ The final product is purified and standardized to achieve consistent color strength for use as a colorant.

Is Ponceau 6R safe to eat?

Regulators in the US have not approved Ponceau 6R for use in foods; it does not appear on FDA’s lists of color additives permitted in foods.² In the EU, E126 is not included in the Union list of food additives established under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and its amendments, so it is not authorized as a food color there either.³

Does Ponceau 6R have any benefits?

Its benefit is purely cosmetic: it adds a vivid red color that can make foods look more appealing. It does not provide nutritional value or functional effects beyond coloring.

Who should avoid Ponceau 6R?

• Consumers in the EU and US will rarely encounter it, but manufacturers, importers, and retailers in those markets should avoid using it in foods because it is not authorized there.²³
• People who prefer to avoid synthetic azo dyes in general can choose products colored with listed alternatives such as beetroot red or anthocyanins.

Myths & facts

• Myth: “E126 and E124 are the same red.” Fact: They are different dyes; Ponceau 4R is authorized in some regions, while E126 is not.
• Myth: “All synthetic red colors are banned.” Fact: Some synthetic reds (for example, Allura Red AC) are permitted where listed by regulators.
• Myth: “Red foods must use azo dyes.” Fact: Many products use natural colors like beetroot red, anthocyanins, or paprika extract.

Ponceau 6R in branded foods

Because it is not authorized as a food color in the EU or US, major brands in those markets do not typically list Ponceau 6R on ingredient labels.²³ If you see it at all, it is most likely on older packaging or on imports from countries with different regulations.

References

Footnotes

1. Ponceau 6R — PubChem, National Institutes of Health. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Ponceau-6R ↩ ↩²

2. Color Additive Status List — U.S. FDA. https://www.fda.gov/industry/color-additives/color-additive-status-list ↩ ↩² ↩³

3. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (Union list of food additives). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/1129/oj ↩ ↩² ↩³