# Disodium 6-hydroxy-5-\[(4-sulfophenyl)azo\]-2-naphthalenesulfonate also known as FD&C Yellow No. 6

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disodium-6-hydroxy-5-4-sulfophenyl-azo-2-naphthalenesulfonate-also-known-as-fd-c-yellow-no-6/1013193>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 21, 2025, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disodium-6-hydroxy-5-4-sulfophenyl-azo-2-naphthalenesulfonate-also-known-as-fd-c-yellow-no-6/1013193 "2025-01-21T02:20:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2025, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disodium-6-hydroxy-5-4-sulfophenyl-azo-2-naphthalenesulfonate-also-known-as-fd-c-yellow-no-6/1013193/1 "2025-01-21T02:20:09Z")

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Can ingesting too much FD&C Yellow No. 6, a food dye, change the color of your urine and make you think you are dehydrated? It is found in orange Gatorade Zero. I have been drinking way too much orange Gatorade Zero lately.

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disodium-6-hydroxy-5-4-sulfophenyl-azo-2-naphthalenesulfonate-also-known-as-fd-c-yellow-no-6/1013193/2 "2025-01-21T02:34:05Z")

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> [@Ynnad](#):
>
> FD&C Yellow No. 6

The Google AI summary says maybe. Many food dyes can do this. Of additional import, it’s bad stuff and you might want to switch flavors/dyes. It’s banned in Europe.

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**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2025, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disodium-6-hydroxy-5-4-sulfophenyl-azo-2-naphthalenesulfonate-also-known-as-fd-c-yellow-no-6/1013193/3 "2025-01-21T11:46:55Z")

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My very first food scare, luckily not involving `Disodium 6-hydroxy-5-[(4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenesulfonate` was when I went at age aound 4, for my morning ablution, and noticed instead of yellow as expected, it was purple.

Quick visit to my parents, and I was reminded I had eaten a lot of beetroot the night before.

Moral of the story; ok, yes. I am not a health practioner and I have no experience with Gatoraid.

Common sense says: if you are worried by your consumption of Gatoraid, stop consuming Gatoraid and see what changes.

FWIW, you do not need the sugar Gatoraid provides.

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**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2025, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disodium-6-hydroxy-5-4-sulfophenyl-azo-2-naphthalenesulfonate-also-known-as-fd-c-yellow-no-6/1013193/4 "2025-01-21T12:50:17Z")

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> [@scudsucker](#):
>
> FWIW, you do not need the sugar Gatoraid provides.

Gatorade Zero has no sugar. The maltodextrin, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium are probably worse for you than sugar.

If I were smart I would just drink water. Unfortunately, … .