Is Red 40 Vegan?
Red 40 is a synthetic food coloring derived from petroleum. While it’s not animal-based, you may not consider it to be totally vegan. That’s because it’s frequently tested on animals — mostly rats and mice — to determine its health risks. In fact, red 40 has been linked to tumors in rats, hyperactivity in children, and impaired reproductive function in rats. So, we can’t say this food coloring is cruelty-free or healthy.
The food coloring Red 40 is found mostly in cosmetics, cereal, beverages, yogurts, pudding, and baked goods. It can be identified not only as “Red 40”, but may also be referred to as “FD&C Red No. 40”, “FD&C Red No. 40 Aluminum Lake”, “Allura Red”, “Allura Red AC”, “C. I. 16035”, “C. I. Food Red 17”, and more.
There is another variation of this food coloring called Red 40 Lake. This is simply the water-soluble version of Red 40. It’s also free from animal-derivatives.
Although many product recipes may contain Red 40, it’s also present in commercial red food colorings for baking and home-cooking. A great way to substitute Red 40 in your kitchen is by using reduced beet juice, instead!
We hope we were able to help you decide whether to continue consuming Red 40 coloring or not. After all, veganism is not about cutting out all the foods you love, but rather, finding any possibly cruelty-free, healthier alternatives that are accessible to you. Thanks for looking out for the planet and our animal friends, and good luck to you on your vegan journey!
Vegan and Non-Toxic Alternatives to Red 40
