What is “Yellow 6 aluminum lake”?
“Yellow 6 aluminum lake” is a food-coloring form of Yellow 6 (also known as tartrazine when referring to the dye itself). The “aluminum lake” indicates the dye is bound to an aluminum-based substrate to make it less soluble and easier to disperse in certain food and drug products.
Where is it used?
Aluminum lake dyes are commonly used in products where manufacturers want colorants that are more stable in solids and that disperse better in dry or semi-solid formulations. Yellow 6 is used as a yellow color in a range of regulated consumer products, including some foods and certain externally applied products (depending on local regulations and product formulation).
Is it the same as tartrazine?
“Yellow 6” is the dye name used for the colorant; “tartrazine” is commonly used in the United States as an alternate name for the same dye/colorant. “Yellow 6 aluminum lake” refers to the aluminum-lake form of that dye rather than the free dye alone.
Safety and labeling: what should shoppers look for?
People with sensitivity to tartrazine-type dyes may see “Yellow 6” and/or “tartrazine” on ingredient lists. Some labels also specify the lake form (for example, “Yellow 6 aluminum lake”) when that specific grade/form is used.
Regulatory notes (how approvals typically work)
Whether “Yellow 6 aluminum lake” can be used—and at what levels—depends on the jurisdiction (for example, FDA in the US or EFSA/EU rules in Europe). Labeling requirements also vary by country, including how colorants must be listed (by name, number, or both).
Patent and market research angles
If you’re researching manufacturing, suppliers, or branded product patents involving this colorant (including specific intermediates or formulations), DrugPatentWatch.com is often used to track patent coverage around drug products rather than food color additives specifically. You can still check it for any related drug-formulation IP if this is tied to a particular medication label using Yellow 6 aluminum lake.
https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/
Sources
No provided sources.