Food orange 7
[CAS# 1109-11-1]

Identification

• Classification: Food additive >> Colorant
• Name: Food orange 7
• Synonyms: ethyl (2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E)-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-17-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)heptadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16-octaenoate
• Molecular Formula: C₃₂H₄₄O₂
• Molecular Weight: 460.69
• CAS Registry Number: 1109-11-1
• EC Number: 214-173-7
• SMILES: CCOC(=O)/C(=C/C=C/C(=C/C=C/C=C(C)/C=C/C=C(C)/C=C/C1=C(CCCC1(C)C)C)/C)/C

Properties

• Density: 1.0±0.1 g/cm³, Calc.^*
• Index of Refraction: 1.545, Calc.^*
• Boiling Point: 589.5±19.0 °C (760 mmHg), Calc.^*
• Flash Point: 338.3±12.6 °C, Calc.^*

^* Calculated using Advanced Chemistry Development (ACD/Labs) Software.

Safety Data

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Chronic hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Chronic	4	H413

Discovery and Applications

Food Orange 7, commonly known as Sunset Yellow FCF, is a synthetic azo dye used predominantly in the food and beverage industry. It is a water-soluble compound that imparts an orange-yellow hue to products. As with many azo dyes, its structure contains a characteristic azo group (-N=N-), which is responsible for its color.

The discovery of Food Orange 7 can be traced back to the early 20th century, during a period when the demand for artificial colorants in food products began to rise. Synthetic dyes offered several advantages over natural alternatives, including greater color stability and a broader spectrum of hues. Food Orange 7 was introduced as a food colorant in the 1930s and is produced through the reaction of specific aromatic compounds, with its stable color making it particularly useful for a range of applications.

In the food industry, Food Orange 7 is primarily used to color beverages, candies, baked goods, and snack foods. It provides a stable, bright color that is resistant to fading and maintains its visual appeal throughout the shelf life of the product. Beyond food, it is also employed in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care items, including tablets, lotions, and soaps, due to its strong pigmentation and stability under various conditions.

Food Orange 7 is subject to regulation by health and safety authorities worldwide. In the European Union, it is assigned the E number E110, and its use is restricted to certain concentrations in food products to ensure consumer safety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also permits its use in food, with specified limits on the amount that can be included in various products. Although generally considered safe when used within these established limits, there have been concerns about the potential health effects of synthetic dyes, particularly regarding their links to hyperactivity and behavioral changes in children. This has led to ongoing debates and studies on the long-term impact of these substances in the diet.

Despite these concerns, Food Orange 7 remains one of the most widely used synthetic colorants, prized for its vibrant and consistent color, its low cost, and its versatility in various product formulations.

References

1996. Wittig and Horner-Emmons Reaction. Carotenoids.
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-0348-9323-7_19

1993. Lipstick. Poucher’s Perfumes, Cosmetics and Soaps.
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-011-1482-0_9

1987. Determination of organic colorants in cosmetic products by high-performance liquid chromatography. Chromatographia.
DOI: 10.1007/bf02688601