Citrus Red 2
A synthetic dye once used to colour the skins of oranges in the US
No single value: Citrus Red 2 is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, orange.
Citrus Red 2 is a man-made dye that gives an orange or reddish colour to the rinds of oranges. It has been allowed in the United States for this use since 1956, but only for fruit sold fresh, not for juice. The dye is considered possibly carcinogenic and is set to be phased out by the end of 2026.
- Used to colour orange peels in the US since 1956
- Not allowed on oranges meant for juice
- Planned to be phased out by the FDA by the end of 2026
- Classified as possibly carcinogenic by IARC
What colour is Citrus Red 2?
Citrus Red 2 is a synthetic dye that appears as a solid with colours ranging from orange to yellow, or as a powder with a deep red tone. It is not water-soluble but dissolves in various organic liquids. This dye is mainly known for its use in giving oranges a more appealing colour on their outer skin.
Where does Citrus Red 2 come from?
The name Citrus Red 2 refers to its use in colouring citrus fruit, particularly oranges. It is an artificial compound, not derived from natural sources. The dye has been in use in the United States since the mid-20th century, mainly for cosmetic purposes in the food industry.
How is Citrus Red 2 made?
Citrus Red 2 is produced through chemical synthesis. It does not occur in nature and is created in laboratories for industrial use. The dye is designed to be stable and to provide a strong colour when applied to the surface of fruit.
Where Citrus Red 2 is used
In the United States, this dye has been used to colour the peels of oranges, especially when the natural colour of the fruit is considered less attractive. Regulations have limited its use to a small amount per kilogram of fruit, and it is not allowed on oranges meant for juice production. Its use is now being discontinued due to health concerns.
Orange around the world
What the orange family means from country to country.
Orange and black are the colours of Halloween, 31 October: orange for pumpkins and autumn leaves, black for night.
Festival and celebrationDanger and warningFearSource: HalloweenThe lowest band of the flag is orange, often called apricot, after the national fruit. The constitution says it stands for the creative talent and hard work of the people.
Politics and protestNature and renewalPrideSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is split corner to corner. The orange half stands for the Buddhist tradition, and the white dragon across the middle for purity.
Sacred and holySource: Flag of BhutanOn 30 September people wear orange shirts to remember the children sent to residential schools. Phyllis Webstad's new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at one.
Mourning and deathPolitics and protestGriefSource: National Day for Truth and ReconciliationOrange is also the colour of the New Democratic Party. Its sweep of Quebec seats in the 2011 election was called the Orange Wave.
Politics and protestSource: New Democratic PartyThe flag shows the island in copper orange on white. The colour recalls copper, which was mined here in ancient times and may have taken its name from Cyprus.
Politics and protestNature and renewalSource: Flag of CyprusShades and relatives of Citrus Red 2
Citrus Red 2 is also known by several other names, including Citrus Red No. 2 and C.I. Solvent Red 80. It is sometimes confused with other synthetic food dyes, but its use has been more restricted compared to others.
Questions people ask about Citrus Red 2
What colour is Citrus Red 2?
Citrus Red 2 can appear as an orange or yellow solid, or as a powder with a deep red shade.
Where does the name Citrus Red 2 come from?
The name comes from its use in colouring citrus fruit, especially oranges, and the numbering system used for synthetic dyes.
Where has Citrus Red 2 been used?
It has mainly been used in the United States to colour the skins of oranges sold as fresh fruit.
Is Citrus Red 2 safe?
It is listed as possibly carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and its use in food is being phased out in the US.
How is Citrus Red 2 made?
It is a synthetic dye, created through chemical processes in laboratories.
Good reading and sources
- Citrus Red 2 on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Citrus Red 2", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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