Ponceau 4R
A synthetic strawberry red dye used in foods outside the United States
No single value: Ponceau 4R is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, red.
Ponceau 4R is a man-made red dye, often described as strawberry red, used to colour foods. The name ponceau comes from French for 'poppy-coloured', and this dye is part of the azo dye family. It is permitted in Europe, Asia, and Australia, but not in the United States.
- Known as E124 in food labelling
- Gives a strawberry red colour to foods
- Not allowed in food by the US FDA
- Stable to light, heat, and acid
- Fades when vitamin C is present
What colour is Ponceau 4R?
Ponceau 4R is a synthetic dye that gives a bright, strawberry-like red colour. It belongs to the group of azo dyes, which are known for their vivid hues. This dye is used mainly to colour foods and is valued for its ability to keep its colour when exposed to light, heat, or acidic conditions. However, it can fade if vitamin C is present.
Where does Ponceau 4R come from?
The word 'ponceau' comes from French, meaning 'poppy-coloured', and has been used since the 17th century to describe this family of dyes. Ponceau 4R is one of many synthetic dyes developed for food use, and its various names reflect its use in different industries and countries.
How is Ponceau 4R made?
Ponceau 4R is made in laboratories from aromatic hydrocarbons, which are chemical compounds containing rings of carbon atoms. The process combines elements like carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sodium, oxygen, and sulfur to create the dye. It is not derived from plants or animals.
Where Ponceau 4R is used
This dye is added to a range of food products to give them a red colour. It is approved for use in Europe, Asia, and Australia, where it appears in items such as drinks, sweets, and processed foods. In the United States, it is not permitted for use in food.
Red around the world
What the red family means from country to country.
The flag uses the four Pan-Arab colours: a red bar at the hoist with green, white and black bands. It was designed by a young Emirati, Abdullah Al Maainah, in 1971.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of the United Arab EmiratesThe flag is a black double-headed eagle on red, the banner of the fifteenth-century hero Skanderbeg. Fans chant Kuq e Zi, red and black.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of AlbaniaArmenian scribes painted manuscripts with vordan karmir, a crimson dye made from an insect that lives on the roots of grasses in the Ararat plain.
Sacred and holySource: Armenian cochinealUnder Juan Manuel de Rosas in the 1830s and 1840s, everyone had to wear a scarlet ribbon to show loyalty to his Federalist party. His enemies, the Unitarians, were tied to sky blue.
Politics and protestFearSource: Juan Manuel de RosasThe flag is red, white and red. Legend says Duke Leopold V's white tunic was soaked in blood at the siege of Acre, all but the band under his belt.
Politics and protestCourageSource: Flag of AustriaRed ochre is used in Aboriginal rock art and ceremony, and is traded over long distances. In the Aboriginal flag the red half stands for the earth and for that ochre.
Sacred and holyNature and renewalAweSource: Australian Aboriginal flagShades and relatives of Ponceau 4R
Ponceau 4R is part of a broader group of synthetic red dyes known as azo dyes. It is sometimes called by other names, such as brilliant scarlet or cochineal red A, but these all refer to the same chemical. It should not be confused with natural cochineal, which comes from insects.
Questions people ask about Ponceau 4R
What colour is Ponceau 4R?
Ponceau 4R is a synthetic dye that produces a bright, strawberry red colour in foods.
Where does the name Ponceau 4R come from?
The name 'ponceau' is French for 'poppy-coloured', describing the red shade of this dye.
Is Ponceau 4R allowed in the United States?
No, Ponceau 4R is not approved for use in foods by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
What is Ponceau 4R made from?
It is made from synthetic chemicals, including carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sodium, oxygen, and sulfur.
Is Ponceau 4R safe to eat?
Authorities in Europe and internationally have set limits for safe intake, and studies have not found evidence of cancer or other serious risks at permitted levels.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Ponceau 4R", 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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