Is Red Yellow Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Wilton
This page reviews Red Yellow by Wilton as a food. Its current score is 30/100, suggesting that it has several flagged ingredients and may not suit cautious buyers.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Potassium Sorbate.
30 / 100
Why score is 30
The product contains multiple synthetic colorants such as Red 40 and Yellow 5, along with preservatives like sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. These ingredients raise significant quality and safety concerns due to their synthetic nature and potential health implications.
Main concern
Presence of sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives raises concerns about synthetic additives.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains glycerin, which is a common humectant that helps retain moisture in food products.
- Includes xanthan gum, a natural thickener that can improve texture and stability.
Concerns
- Presence of sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives raises concerns about synthetic additives.
- Multiple artificial colorants (Red 40, Yellow 5) indicate a highly processed composition with potential health risks.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this food and why it matters.
-
Is Water safe in this food?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water serves as a primary solvent in this product, contributing to the overall consistency and texture.
Role in formula: base
Original: water
-
Is Propylene Glycol safe in this food?
Medium
Propylene Glycol is used here as solvent. Propylene glycol is used as a solvent and humectant, but its synthetic nature raises some safety concerns.
Role in formula: solvent
Original: propylene glycol
-
Is Glycerin safe in this food?
Good
Glycerin is used here as humectant. Glycerin is a natural humectant that helps retain moisture, enhancing the product's texture and stability.
Role in formula: humectant
Original: glycerin
-
Is Sorbitol safe in this food?
Medium
Sorbitol is used here as sweetener. Sorbitol acts as a sweetener and humectant, but it can cause digestive issues in some individuals when consumed in large amounts.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: sorbitol
-
Is Yellow 5 safe in this food?
Bad
Yellow 5 is used here as colorant. Yellow 5 is a synthetic colorant that may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, raising safety concerns.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: yellow 5
-
Is Yellow 6 safe in this food?
Bad
Yellow 6 is used here as colorant. Yellow 6 is another synthetic colorant associated with potential allergic reactions and health concerns.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: yellow 6
-
Is Xanthan Gum safe in this food?
Good
Xanthan Gum is used here as thickener. Xanthan gum is a natural thickener that improves texture and stability without significant safety concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: xanthan gum
-
Is Potassium Sorbate safe in this food?
Bad
Potassium Sorbate is used here as preservative. Potassium sorbate is a synthetic preservative that helps prevent spoilage but raises concerns about synthetic additives.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: potassium sorbate
-
Is Sodium Benzoate safe in this food?
Bad
Sodium Benzoate is used here as preservative. Sodium benzoate is a synthetic preservative that can form benzene, a known carcinogen, under certain conditions.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: sodium benzoate
-
Is Red 40 safe in this food?
Bad
Red 40 is used here as colorant. Red 40 is a synthetic colorant linked to hyperactivity in children and other health concerns, raising safety issues.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: red 40
-
Is Red 3 safe in this food?
Bad
Red 3 is used here as colorant. Red 3 is a synthetic colorant that has been banned in some applications due to safety concerns, indicating significant risks.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: red 3
-
Is Blue 1 safe in this food?
Bad
Blue 1 is used here as colorant. Blue 1 is a synthetic colorant that may cause allergic reactions and is associated with various health concerns.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: blue 1
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 3267090
More from this brand: Wilton products in Zerotox
Similar products: food in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: soy , tree nuts
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.