Allura Red AC

Allura Red AC is notable for histamine and salicylate. Clear on tyramine, sucrose, FODMAPs, lactose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, fructose, nickel, oxalates and gluten.

Yes — Allura Red AC is high in histamine. Allura red (E129) replaced amaranth in most red applications and is now the commonest synthetic red in confectionery and drinks. It is one of the Southampton six, so the children's attention warning applies. Its being the modern replacement does not change its standing here: same group, same mechanism. None of this is about histamine content: a colour carries none. Colours are on this page because the pseudoallergen-free elimination diet removes them as a class, and that diet is itself unproven in double-blind trials.

Yes — Allura Red AC is high in salicylate. An azo dye widely used for red confectionery and drinks, and part of the group of synthetic colours that trigger salicylate-sensitive people. It is also one of the six colours of Annex V of the additives regulation, which must carry the children's attention warning on the label - a different endpoint from this axis: attention, not salicylate. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.