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Ingredient file // Other

Yellow 5

A cheap yellow color with no nutrition job

Yellow 5, also called tartrazine, is a synthetic dye that gives pet food a repeatable yellow shade. It adds no useful nutrition or flavor. A small dog study and a broader feed safety review offer reassurance at coloring amounts, but neither rules out every individual reaction.

Role in the food Does a job
What it is
A certified synthetic dye added to food to produce or restore a yellow color.
Made from
Chemically synthesized dye compounds
Main job
Colors the food yellow
Typical amount
Reported up to 257 mg/kg dry food
Watch for
Possible individual reactions, untested in dogs
Not the same as
Yellow 6

Straight answer

Is Yellow 5 safe for dogs?

Read the recipe past the color

Yellow 5 low on a bag's list is there to change how the food looks. It adds no useful nutrition, and its presence alone does not show that the food is unsafe. Check the named protein sources, nutrition statement and other ingredients. Choose an otherwise suitable food without dye if you prefer.

Why it is in the food
Colors the food yellow

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 63 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

2%

51 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 6 brands. 42 dry dog food, 9 wet dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 24. In the top five of 0 foods, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

0%

Usually listed after the salt, which caps it at roughly 1% of the recipe in 100% of foods.

Price per lb

Foods with it $0.85
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 38 priced foods, 74% below the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

39%

of the foods that list it are from Pedigree. 6 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Chemical manufacturers make tartrazine for use as a color additive. Pet food makers buy the purified dye because small additions produce a repeatable shade, even when the ingredients beneath it vary in color.1,2,3

  1. 01 // Source Starting chemicals Production starts with aminobenzenesulfonic acid and another compound that contributes to the dye structure.
  2. 02 // Process Form the dye The starting compounds react to form tartrazine, a water soluble yellow dye.
  3. 03 // Process Purify and certify The dye is isolated as a sodium salt. FDA tests each batch before certifying it for use.
  4. 04 // Output Yellow dye powder The certified powder reaches food makers for mixing directly into feed or adding as a water solution.

What is in it

Composition, as fed

88-89

% color

Total coloring matter in five tested batches of powder. A small addition changes appearance without supplying useful nutrients.

Total coloring matter 88.2-89.2%1
Subsidiary coloring matter 0-0.1%1
Other organic compounds 0-0.5%1

The first row is a measured range; the other rows are reported upper limits. Moisture and salts were not reported separately, so these powder figures cannot be converted reliably to a dry matter basis.1

Why it is in the bag

There only to make the food look yellow

  1. Main nutrition
  2. Supporting nutrient
  3. Does a job
  4. Mostly filler

Makers add Yellow 5 because certified synthetic colors give an intense, uniform shade, cost less and blend into other hues [3]. FDA says color additives can correct natural variations in color [3], and EFSA found tartrazine effective in adding color to feed [1]. Labels list ingredients by weight [4], and Yellow 5 often sits far down the list, so the amount is likely tiny. It supplies no nutrition. Its job is how the food looks to you.1,3,4

  1. 01

    Gives a repeatable shade

    In a manufacturer submitted biscuit test, added tartrazine changed measured color. It lets a food maker adjust appearance without changing the main recipe.1

  2. 02

    Keeps color inexpensive

    FDA says certified synthetic colors give intense, uniform color and cost less than colors from other sources. Appearance is the reason to buy it.3

  3. 03

    Blends with other colors

    FDA says certified colors blend readily to create other hues. Yellow 5 gives a manufacturer another way to adjust a food's appearance.3

How much Pet food manufacturers reported use up to 257 mg/kg of dry dog food in data submitted to EFSA.1

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Yellow 5 makes pet food visibly yellower

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A manufacturer submitted test added tartrazine to pet biscuits at 0, 50 and 500 mg/kg and measured stronger yellow color. It showed an appearance change in biscuits, not a benefit to dogs.1

  2. Brands say

    Yellow 5 is safe at normal dog food amounts

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    EFSA considered 520 mg/kg of complete dog food safe. Its assessment relied mainly on laboratory animal data because the 2-year dog study had only 12 beagles and uncertain findings at the highest dose.1

  3. Critics say

    Yellow 5 triggers allergic reactions in dogs

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    EFSA reviewed reactions in guinea pigs and people, including skin test findings. The 12-dog feeding study was too small to test rare reactions, so Yellow 5 is not a proven dog food allergen.1

  4. Critics say

    Yellow 5 makes dogs hyperactive

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    EFSA discussed human research and found too little evidence to link certain additives, including tartrazine, to hyperactivity in children. Its dog feeding study did not measure behavior. The dog claim has no direct support.1

  5. Critics say

    Yellow 5 causes cancer in dogs

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    EFSA found no carcinogenicity signal in long-term laboratory animal studies and explicitly concluded that tartrazine was not carcinogenic. The 12-dog study was too small to settle a rare cancer risk by itself.1

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    It has a specific job: changing the food's color. It supplies no useful nutrition, so there is no dietary reason to seek it out. Its presence says little about the recipe around it.1,2

  2. Q02

    Does the label show the dose?

    No

    The ingredient list names what went into the food and orders ingredients by weight. It does not give a Yellow 5 concentration. The manufacturer data reviewed by EFSA describe reported use, not the amount in your bag.1,4

  3. Q03

    Is Yellow 5 Yellow 6?

    No

    FDA identifies Yellow 5 as tartrazine and Yellow 6 as a separate color. A bag listing Yellow 5 does not tell you Yellow 6 is present; read each color named in the ingredient list.3,4

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Pedigree 20 / 42
  2. Purina 13 / 185
  3. Kibbles n Bits 10 / 11
  4. Cesar 4 / 45
  5. Iams 3 / 31
  6. Gravy Train 1 / 6

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #12 Pedigree Adult Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food
  2. #22 Cesar Filet Mignon Flavor & Spring Vegetables Garnish Dry Dog Food
  3. #41 Pedigree Small Dog Grilled Steak and Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food
  4. #59 Kibbles n Bits Original Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog Food
  5. #73 Pedigree Puppy Chicken & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Soybean Meal 80%
  2. Animal Fat 67%
  3. Meat and Bone Meal 51%
  4. Natural Flavor 49%
  5. Corn Gluten Meal 45%
  6. Salt 35%
  7. Chicken By-Product Meal 35%
  8. Chicken 33%
  9. BHA 27%
  10. Citric Acid 27%
  11. Whole Grain Ground Corn 27%
  12. Brewers Rice 25%

On the shelf

Foods that list Yellow 5

51 foods in our catalog list it, highest on the label first.

Pedigree High Protein Adult Can, Chicken & Turkey Wet Dog FoodPedigreePedigree High Protein Adult Can, Chicken & Turkey Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 15 on the labelIams Proactive Health With Chicken AND Whole Grain Rice Classic Ground Wet Dog FoodIamsIams Proactive Health With Chicken AND Whole Grain Rice Classic Ground Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 16 on the labelIams Adult Chicken Chunks IN Gravy Wet Dog FoodIamsIams Adult Chicken Chunks IN Gravy Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelPedigree Choice Cuts IN Gravy Adult Cans, Country Stew and Chicken & Rice Wet Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Choice Cuts IN Gravy Adult Cans, Country Stew and Chicken & Rice Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelPedigree Choice Cuts IN Gravy Adult Can, Country Stew Wet Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Choice Cuts IN Gravy Adult Can, Country Stew Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelGravy Train Beefy Classic Dry Dog FoodGravy TrainGravy Train Beefy Classic Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 19 on the labelPurina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 20 on the labelPurina Dog Chow High Protein with Real Lamb Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Dog Chow High Protein with Real Lamb Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 20 on the labelPurina Alpo Come & Get It! Cookout Classics Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Alpo Come & Get It! Cookout Classics Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 20 on the labelPedigree High Protein Chicken & Turkey Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree High Protein Chicken & Turkey Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 24 on the labelKibbles n Bits Original Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Original Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 25 on the labelCesar Home Delights Sausage with Egg & Cheese in Sauce Wet Dog FoodCesarCesar Home Delights Sausage with Egg & Cheese in Sauce Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 25 on the label
Show 39 more
Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner Adult Can, Turkey & Bacon Wet Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Chopped Ground Dinner Adult Can, Turkey & Bacon Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 18 on the labelPedigree Weight Management Chopped Ground Dinner Adult, Chicken & Rice Dinner Wet Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Weight Management Chopped Ground Dinner Adult, Chicken & Rice Dinner Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 19 on the labelPedigree with MarroBites Adult, Grilled Steak and Vegetable Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree with MarroBites Adult, Grilled Steak and Vegetable Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 19 on the labelIams Proactive Health Senior With Slow Cooked Chicken AND Rice Classic Ground Wet Dog FoodIamsIams Proactive Health Senior With Slow Cooked Chicken AND Rice Classic Ground Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 20 on the labelPurina Dog Chow Complete Adult with Real Chicken Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Dog Chow Complete Adult with Real Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 20 on the labelPurina Dog Chow Complete Adult with Real Beef Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Dog Chow Complete Adult with Real Beef Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 20 on the labelPedigree Small Dog Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Small Dog Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 20 on the labelPedigree Adult, Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Adult, Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelPurina Dog Chow High Protein Real Chicken Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Dog Chow High Protein Real Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelPurina Dog Chow Little Bites for Small Dogs Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Dog Chow Little Bites for Small Dogs Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelPedigree Adult Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Adult Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 21 on the labelPedigree Puppy Chicken & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Puppy Chicken & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelPedigree Healthy Weight Roasted Chicken, & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Healthy Weight Roasted Chicken, & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelPedigree Big Dogs Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Big Dogs Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelPedigree Adult Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Adult Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 23 on the labelPurina Dog Chow Soft Bites Smoked Chicken Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Dog Chow Soft Bites Smoked Chicken Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 24 on the labelKibbles n Bits Meaty Middles Prime Rib Flavor Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Meaty Middles Prime Rib Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 25 on the labelPedigree Small Dog Grilled Steak and Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Small Dog Grilled Steak and Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelPedigree Adult, Roasted Lamb & Vegetable Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Adult, Roasted Lamb & Vegetable Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelPurina Puppy Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Puppy Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelPedigree High Protein Beef and Lamb Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree High Protein Beef and Lamb Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelKibbles n Bits Beefy Bits Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Beefy Bits Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 26 on the labelPedigree Puppy Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Puppy Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 27 on the labelKibbles n Bits Mini Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Mini Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 27 on the labelKibbles n Bits Homestyle Grilled Beef & Vegetable Flavors Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Homestyle Grilled Beef & Vegetable Flavors Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 27 on the labelKibbles n Bits Bistro Kibbles ‘n Bits : Roasted Beef, Vegetable & Apple Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Bistro Kibbles ‘n Bits : Roasted Beef, Vegetable & Apple Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelKibbles n Bits Bistro Small Breed Mini Bits Oven Roasted Beef Flavor Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Bistro Small Breed Mini Bits Oven Roasted Beef Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelKibbles n Bits Bistro Oven Roasted Beef Flavor Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Bistro Oven Roasted Beef Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 29 on the labelCesar Filet Mignon Flavor & Spring Vegetables Garnish Dry Dog FoodCesarCesar Filet Mignon Flavor & Spring Vegetables Garnish Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 30 on the labelKibbles n Bits Triple Steak Flavor: High Protein Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Triple Steak Flavor: High Protein Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelPurina Alpo Prime Cuts Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Alpo Prime Cuts Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 31 on the labelCesar Porterhouse Flavor & Spring Vegetables Garnish Dry Dog FoodCesarCesar Porterhouse Flavor & Spring Vegetables Garnish Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 32 on the labelPedigree Tender Bites for Small Dogs Chicken & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Tender Bites for Small Dogs Chicken & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 34 on the labelPedigree Tender Bites Chicken & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodPedigreePedigree Tender Bites Chicken & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 34 on the labelKibbles n Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodKibbles n BitsKibbles n Bits Bacon & Steak Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 35 on the labelCesar Rotisserie Chicken Flavor & Spring Vegetables Garnish Dry Dog FoodCesarCesar Rotisserie Chicken Flavor & Spring Vegetables Garnish Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 36 on the labelPurina Dog Chow High Protein Real Beef Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Dog Chow High Protein Real Beef Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 37 on the labelPurina Puppy Chow Large Breed Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Puppy Chow Large Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 37 on the labelPurina Puppy Chow Complete Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Puppy Chow Complete Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 39 on the label

Leaving it out

Foods without artificial colors

For owners who skip artificial colors: popular dry foods priced like the ones that list it ($0.60 to $1.19 per lb), with no artificial colors on the label.

Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Chicken & Veggies Recipe Dry Dog FoodRachael Ray NutrishRachael Ray Nutrish Real Chicken & Veggies Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // $1.11 per lbRachael Ray Nutrish Real Beef, Pea & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodRachael Ray NutrishRachael Ray Nutrish Real Beef, Pea & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // $1.11 per lbOl’ Roy Complete Nutrition Small Bites Complete Nutrition Chicken and Rice Flavor Dry Dog FoodOl' RoyOl’ Roy Complete Nutrition Small Bites Complete Nutrition Chicken and Rice Flavor Dry Dog FoodDry // $0.84 per lbDiamond High Energy Adult Dry Dog FoodDiamondDiamond High Energy Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // $0.86 per lbWellness Core+ Beef & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core+ Beef & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // $0.83 per lbWellness Core Wholesome Grains Original Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core Wholesome Grains Original Dry Dog FoodDry // $0.87 per lbDiamond Care Sensitive Skin Formula for Adult Dogs Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDiamondDiamond Care Sensitive Skin Formula for Adult Dogs Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // $0.80 per lbRoyal Canin X-Small Weight Care Dry Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin X-Small Weight Care Dry Dog FoodDry // $0.75 per lb

Checked against the ingredient list we store for each food. Labels change, so read the bag before you buy.

Sources

What we read

Checked September 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Safety and efficacy of tartrazine (E 102) for cats and dogs, ornamental fish, grain-eating ornamental birds and small rodents EFSA Journal, 2016 // Journal
  2. 2 21 CFR § 74.705 FD&C Yellow No. 5 Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 2026 // Regulator
  3. 3 Color Additives in Foods U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2024 // Government
  4. 4 Animal Food Labeling and Pet Food Claims U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026 // Government
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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