# What do the numbers after artifical colors stand for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522 "2012-03-02T04:53:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cookie\_eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@cookie\_eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cookie_eater)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522/1 "2012-03-02T04:53:58Z")
Sometimes on the ingredients list of certain products, mainly foods, you’ll find something that kind of goes like “artificial colors: blue #1, yellow #6, etc.” What do the numbers after the colors stand for? ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522/2 "2012-03-02T05:17:31Z")
I’m pretty sure they represent the chronological order that the dye was introduced. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522/3 "2012-03-02T05:43:12Z")
Hell, I thought it would be easier to find cites backing my theory, but this article from the wayback machine is the closest thing I can find explaining the numbering system. > **[Red No. 3 and Other Colorful Controversies (May 1990)](http://web.archive.org/web/20070809080710/http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00063.html)** The reason I was convinced about the chronological ordering scheme was that I remember the scare over Red dye #2 back in the 70s and the subsequent rapid increase in numbers for red dyes. [QUOTE=wayback machine] For complete lists of color additives approved for use in food, drugs and cosmetics–including the year approved, uses and restrictions–write to: Division of Colors and Cosmetics FDA (HFF-442) 200 C Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20204 [/QUOTE] I think I’ll write them. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522/4 "2012-03-02T15:46:20Z")
Or perhaps the order in which they were approved by the FDA? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522/5 "2012-03-02T15:59:34Z")
The European Union has [a standardized numbering system for food additives, including colouring agents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_number); these numbers are occasionally used on non-European products as well. But it looks like the particular examples you gave in your OP aren’t using this system. ---
**Author:** ![cookie\_eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@cookie\_eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cookie_eater)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522/6 "2012-03-02T19:10:20Z")
Well, I doubt it’s order because I’ve see a lot of “red #40.” The examples I’ve seen the most of are “Blue#1, Red#40, Yellow #6”. And I’ve also seen “yellow 5,” but probably because that was on mouthwash, and it’s probably a different type of dye. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522/7 "2012-03-02T19:53:34Z")
I believe it may have something to do with the order in which they were approved by the [FD&C](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Food,_Drug,_and_Cosmetic_Act) (Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act), since there are [many dyes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_coloring) that have been approved, but have since been disbanded from use in foods, cosmetics and/or pharmaceuticals. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522/8 "2012-03-02T20:51:07Z")
I, for one, am tickled FF66FF to see **cmyk** posting in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522/9 "2012-03-02T21:05:54Z")
Aww, c’mon, you’re gonna make me FF6666. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-the-numbers-after-artifical-colors-stand-for/614522/10 "2012-03-02T21:59:12Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Aww, c’mon, you’re gonna make me FF6666. That’s awfully RGB of you.