E102 — Tartrazine

Status in the United States (FDA)

Listed in the FDA inventory “Substances Added to Food”, with the regulations 21 CFR 74.705, 74.1705, 74.2705.

Technical effects listed by the FDA: color or coloring adjunct, flavor enhancer, flavoring agent or adjuvant

California: from 31 December 2027, school meals and food sold to pupils at school may not contain this substance (AB 2316, California School Food Safety Act — Education Code §§ 49431, 49431.2, 49431.5). Applies to school breakfasts and lunches and to food and drinks sold to pupils at public schools. Foods from the USDA Foods in Schools program and fundraiser sales off campus or after the school day are exempt.

West Virginia: from 1 August 2025, school meals and food sold to pupils at school may not contain this substance (HB 2354 (2025) — W. Va. Code § 18-5D-3a). Applies to meals served in school nutrition programs. Fundraiser sales off school premises or after the school day are exempt.

West Virginia: from 1 January 2028, a food product containing this substance may not be made, sold or distributed in the state (HB 2354 (2025) — W. Va. Code § 16-7-2). Food containing it counts as adulterated. Criminal penalties do not apply to sellers of less than $5,000 a month of such food (§ 16-7-4).

The inventory is a partial list, and a listing is not an FDA approval of every use; the regulations set the permitted uses.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Substances Added to Food (updated 9/8/2026), public domain · CAS 1934-21-0 via Wikidata (CC0)