Orange B
A synthetic azo dye once used to colour hot dog and sausage casings in the United States
No single value: Orange B is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, orange.
Orange B is a synthetic food dye from the azo group, formerly used in the United States to colour the surface of hot dog and sausage casings. Approved in 1966, it was limited to a small amount and later faced safety concerns. Since 1978, it has not been produced or certified for use, and its regulation is now being revoked.
- Only approved for hot dog and sausage casings in the U.S.
- No batches certified or requested since 1978
- FDA began revoking its regulation in 2025
- Belongs to the azo dye group
- Was produced as a disodium salt
What colour is Orange B?
Orange B is a synthetic dye from the azo group, made for colouring food. It gives an orange colour and was used specifically for the outer layer of hot dogs and sausages. Its use was tightly controlled, with only a small amount allowed on the surface of these foods. It stands out from other food dyes by its very limited and specialised use.
Where does Orange B come from?
The name Orange B refers to its colour and its place among a series of synthetic dyes. It was first approved for food use in the United States in 1966. The dye is part of the azo group, a class of synthetic colourants known for their vivid shades. Safety concerns over contaminants led to its decline and eventual abandonment.
How is Orange B made?
Orange B is produced synthetically as a disodium salt. It belongs to the azo dye group, which are chemical compounds made by joining two nitrogen atoms with aromatic rings. The dye was manufactured in the United States, but production stopped in 1978 after health concerns and regulatory review.
Where Orange B is used
Its only approved use was to colour the surface of hot dog and sausage casings, with a strict limit on the amount used. No other food or product was permitted to contain Orange B. Since 1978, no manufacturer has made or requested certification for this dye, and it is no longer found in food.
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 Orange B
Orange B is one of several azo dyes, a group that includes many other synthetic food colours. It is distinct from other orange dyes by its specific regulatory status and use. Other food dyes may look similar but have different chemical structures and uses.
Questions people ask about Orange B
What colour is Orange B?
Orange B is an orange synthetic dye, used to colour the surface of hot dog and sausage casings.
Where does the name Orange B come from?
The name refers to its orange colour and its place among a series of synthetic dyes.
What was Orange B used for?
It was only approved for colouring the surface of hot dog and sausage casings in the United States.
Why was Orange B abandoned?
Concerns over potential carcinogenic contaminants and lack of industry use led to its abandonment.
Is Orange B still used today?
No, it has not been produced or certified since 1978, and its regulation is being revoked.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Orange B", 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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