Yellow Food Dye Tartrazine Is Damaging Kidneys
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 4/6/2026
The yellow food dye tartrazine (Yellow #5) is causing kidney damage. It triggers oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death in kidney tissue.
What the Study Found
A 2026 study found that tartrazine induces nephrotic injury through oxidative stress, impaired kidney function, inflammation, damaged kidney tissue, and activation of cell death pathways. The antioxidant quercetin could partially protect against the damage, proving the oxidative mechanism.
Tartrazine is one of the most common food dyes in the world. It's in candy, chips, sodas, cereals, mac and cheese, mustard, and thousands of other products. If it's yellow or orange and processed, it probably contains tartrazine.
What You Can Do
Read labels for tartrazine, Yellow #5, or E102. Choose naturally colored foods. Skip brightly colored processed snacks, especially for kids. Their kidneys are smaller and more vulnerable.
Check out our non-toxic kitchen alternatives for dye-free options.
Also see glass food containers for safer alternatives.