Food additives: Food colours

Food colours are food additives that are used to add colour to foods. The List of Permitted Food Colours sets out the food colours that are permitted in Canada, the foods they may be used in, and the maximum level of use in each food.

Health Canada is aware of recent publications on potential links between certain synthetic food colours and neurobehavioural effects in children. Health Canada reviewed these publications but found that the evidence presented was insufficient to show that synthetic food colours cause this kind of effect. As with any food additive, Health Canada will further restrict the permitted use of a food colour, or no longer permit a food colour to be used at all, if there is a safety reason to take such action.

Most prepackaged foods in Canada with more than one ingredient must have a list of ingredients. This list shows all the ingredients in a prepackaged food, including food colours. If you want to avoid certain food colours, check the list of ingredients for the names of the food colours.