FD&C Red No. 4
4548-53-2 · 1-Naphthalenesulfonic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-((6-sulfo-2,4-xylyl)azo)-, disodium salt · 12101 Red · 1306 Red · 2-(6-Sulfo-2,4-xylylazo)-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid, disodium salt · 2-(6-Sulpho-2,4-xylylazo)-1-naphthol-4-sulphonic acid, disodium salt · 3-((2,4-DIMETHYL-5-SULFOPHENYL)AZO)-4-HYDROXY-1-NAPHTHALENESULFO · 4-Hydroxy-3-((5-sulfo-2,4-xylyl)azo)-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, disodium salt · 4-Hydroxy-3-((5-sulpho-2,4-xylyl)azo)-1-naphthalenesulphonic acid, disodium salt · 4R purple · AKA504 · C.I. Food Red 1 · C.I. Food Red 1, disodium salt · CCRIS 3188 · Certicol Ponceau SXS · Cerven potravinarska 1 [Czech] · Crimson 4R · D&C RED NO. 4 · Disodium 2-(5-sulfo-2,4-xylylazo)-1-naphthol-4-sulfonate · Disodium 3-((2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxy-1-naphthalenesulfonate · Dye FD & C Red No. 4 · Dye FD and C Red No. 4 · Edicol Supra Ponceau SX · FD & C Red no. 4 · FD and C Red No. 4 · FD&C Red 4 · FD&C Red No. 4 · fd&c red no. 4 (c.i. 14700 (Na)) · FD&C Red No. 4 - Aluminium Lake · FDC RED NO. 4 · Food red 1 · GRRDBTDTMCTWQZ-ZAWKPCBGSA-L · Hexacol Ponceau SX · Maple Ponceau SX · Ponceau SX · Ponceau SX Lake · Ponceau SX, AldrichCPR · Ponceau SX, analytical standard · Purple 4R · Red 4 · Red Lake 89865N · Red No. 1 · Red No. 4 · Red shade #24 · Usacert FD & C Red No. 4 · Usacert Red No. 4 · X3W0AM1JLX · 1-Naphthalenesulfonic acid, 3-((2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxy-, disodium salt · 1-Naphthalenesulfonic acid, 3-(2-(2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfophenyl)diazenyl)-4-hydroxy-, sodium salt (1:2) · 3-((2,4-Dimethyl-5-sulfophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxy-1-naphthalenesulfon- ic acid, disodium salt · 3-((2,4-Dimethyl-5-sulfophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxy-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, disodium salt · 3-((2,4-Dimethyl-5-sulphophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxy-1-naphthalenesulphonic acid, disodium salt · Disodium 3-((2,4-dimethyl-5-sulphonatophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulphonate · disodium 3-[(E)-(2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfonatophenyl)diazenyl]-4-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulfonate · DISODIUM 3-[(E)-2-(2,4-DIMETHYL-5-SULFONATOPHENYL)DIAZEN-1-YL]-4-HYDROXYNAPHTHALENE-1-SULFONATE · disodium;3-[(2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfonatophenyl)diazenyl]-4-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulfonate · FD&C Red No. 4CAS 4548-53-2
Listed as a colour by Canada.
Listed as colours (CA)
- Canada: Food colour — Health Canada, List of Permitted Food Colours (List 3)
FD&C Red No. 4 is a synthetic red dye no longer permitted in food in the United States. After its general food use ended it remained permitted for maraschino cherries only, until that use was also withdrawn in 1976.
Where it is and isn’t permitted
| Jurisdiction | Status | Scope and limits | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia and New Zealand | No listed food uses foundThis site has not matched this substance to any food use on this jurisdiction’s list of authorised food additives. A food additive may be used only in foods that list names. Flavourings, enzymes, processing aids and added nutrients are regulated separately and do not appear on it. | ||
| Canada | Permitted, with conditions | highest permitted level 150 mg/kg In: Fruit Peel; Glacé fruits; Maraschino cherries. …In: Fruit Peel; Glacé fruits; Maraschino cherries. Purpose: Food colour. Limit: 150 ppm. Note: This food colour is a synthetic colour as defined in section B.16.001 of the Food and Drug Regulations. For the purposes of section B.16.012 of the Food and Drug Regulations, the synthetic colours identified in the list above are water soluble with the exception of citrus red No. 2. Amendment notices: NOM/ADM-0108. | Health Canada, List of Permitted Food Colours (List 3), item P.2retrieved 2026-10-17 |
| European Union | No listed food uses foundThis site has not matched this substance to any food use on this jurisdiction’s list of authorised food additives. A food additive may be used only in foods that list names. Flavourings, enzymes, processing aids and added nutrients are regulated separately and do not appear on it. | ||
| Great Britain | No listed food uses foundThis site has not matched this substance to any food use on this jurisdiction’s list of authorised food additives. A food additive may be used only in foods that list names. Flavourings, enzymes, processing aids and added nutrients are regulated separately and do not appear on it. | ||
| Japan | No listing matchedThis site imports only Japan’s list of designated additives (Appended Table 1 to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act), matched by English name. Existing additives, natural flavouring agents and ordinary foods used as additives are permitted outside that list and are not imported, so an empty row does not show that Japan does not permit the substance. | ||
| South Korea | No listing matchedThis site imports Part III of South Korea’s Standards and Specifications for Food Additives, matched by CAS number, then INS number, then exact name. Mixed preparations and sanitisers are not imported, and an entry whose identifiers disagreed with a page’s is held for review, so an empty row does not show that South Korea does not permit the substance. | ||
| United States | Not listedDoes not appear on this jurisdiction’s permitted list. That is not the same as being prohibited. | ||
| Codex Alimentarius | Not listedDoes not appear on this jurisdiction’s permitted list. That is not the same as being prohibited. |
How much is permitted
A listing usually limits the quantity as well as the food. Only one of the forms that takes is a figure: quantum satis and good manufacturing practice permit the amount the technological effect requires and no more, which is a limit rather than the absence of one. Figures below are the range across every food category this page is listed in, and categories differ between regulators — see how much is permitted.
| Canada | 150 mg/kg | 1 numeric limit |
|---|
What it is made from
A synthetic azo dye produced from petroleum-derived aromatic intermediates.
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
Compare other additives on the dietary indexes.
- CAS registry number
- 4548-53-2
- InChIKey
- ONTQJDKFANPPKK-UHFFFAOYSA-L
- PubChem
- CID 62542
Every name it appears under
57 recorded names. A label may use any of them.
CAS registry number
- 4548-53-2
As it appears in regulation
- FD&C Red No. 4
Other names
- 1-Naphthalenesulfonic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-((6-sulfo-2,4-xylyl)azo)-, disodium salt
- 12101 Red
- 1306 Red
- 2-(6-Sulfo-2,4-xylylazo)-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid, disodium salt
- 2-(6-Sulpho-2,4-xylylazo)-1-naphthol-4-sulphonic acid, disodium salt
- 3-((2,4-DIMETHYL-5-SULFOPHENYL)AZO)-4-HYDROXY-1-NAPHTHALENESULFO
- 4-Hydroxy-3-((5-sulfo-2,4-xylyl)azo)-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, disodium salt
- 4-Hydroxy-3-((5-sulpho-2,4-xylyl)azo)-1-naphthalenesulphonic acid, disodium salt
- 4R purple
- AKA504
- C.I. Food Red 1
- C.I. Food Red 1, disodium salt
- CCRIS 3188
- Certicol Ponceau SXS
- Cerven potravinarska 1 [Czech]
- Crimson 4R
- D&C RED NO. 4
- Disodium 2-(5-sulfo-2,4-xylylazo)-1-naphthol-4-sulfonate
- Disodium 3-((2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxy-1-naphthalenesulfonate
- Dye FD & C Red No. 4
- Dye FD and C Red No. 4
- Edicol Supra Ponceau SX
- FD & C Red no. 4
- FD and C Red No. 4
- FD&C Red 4
- FD&C Red No. 4
- fd&c red no. 4 (c.i. 14700 (Na))
- FD&C Red No. 4 - Aluminium Lake
- FDC RED NO. 4
- Food red 1
- GRRDBTDTMCTWQZ-ZAWKPCBGSA-L
- Hexacol Ponceau SX
- Maple Ponceau SX
- Ponceau SX
- Ponceau SX Lake
- Ponceau SX, AldrichCPR
- Ponceau SX, analytical standard
- Purple 4R
- Red 4
- Red Lake 89865N
- Red No. 1
- Red No. 4
- Red shade #24
- Usacert FD & C Red No. 4
- Usacert Red No. 4
- X3W0AM1JLX
Systematic names
- 1-Naphthalenesulfonic acid, 3-((2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxy-, disodium salt
- 1-Naphthalenesulfonic acid, 3-(2-(2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfophenyl)diazenyl)-4-hydroxy-, sodium salt (1:2)
- 3-((2,4-Dimethyl-5-sulfophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxy-1-naphthalenesulfon- ic acid, disodium salt
- 3-((2,4-Dimethyl-5-sulfophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxy-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, disodium salt
- 3-((2,4-Dimethyl-5-sulphophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxy-1-naphthalenesulphonic acid, disodium salt
- Disodium 3-((2,4-dimethyl-5-sulphonatophenyl)azo)-4-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulphonate
- disodium 3-[(E)-(2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfonatophenyl)diazenyl]-4-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulfonate
- DISODIUM 3-[(E)-2-(2,4-DIMETHYL-5-SULFONATOPHENYL)DIAZEN-1-YL]-4-HYDROXYNAPHTHALENE-1-SULFONATE
- disodium;3-[(2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfonatophenyl)diazenyl]-4-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulfonate
Hazard reference values
| Type | Value | Population | Assessed by | Opinion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI | not allocated | — | JECFA | 1980 |
Evidence and how bodies read it
Studies, and the differing conclusions regulators drew from them, are curated rather than machine-read, and none has been written for this substance yet.
Common questions
Assembled from what is above, in the words the questions are usually asked in. Each answer is the same statement the relevant section makes, with the same citations behind it.
- What is FD&C Red No. 4?
- FD&C Red No. 4 is a synthetic red dye no longer permitted in food in the United States. After its general food use ended it remained permitted for maraschino cherries only, until that use was also withdrawn in 1976.
- What is FD&C Red No. 4 used for in food?
- It is listed as a colour — the role Canada assigns it. This page shows every function each regulator records, with the citation for each.
- Where is FD&C Red No. 4 permitted?
- Of the seven regulators this site reads, Canada permits it. Each permission is for named foods at named levels, not a blanket one; the table on this page gives them with citations.
- Is FD&C Red No. 4 vegan?
- Yes. FD&C Red No. 4 is not derived from animals, and is suitable for vegetarians. This page says what it is made from and how.
Sources for this page
- ca retrieved 2026-10-17
Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.
Machine-readable: a JSON record of this additive is given on request —how to ask for access.
Follow changes to FD&C Red No. 4:Atom feed — regulatory events, and any change the weekly refresh detects in its provisions.