Quinoline yellow

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

Quinoline yellow contains moderate levels of histamine. Quinoline yellow: it can trigger the release of histamine from mast cells in sensitive individuals

Quinoline yellow contains moderate levels of salicylate. Quinoline yellow is one of the six colours that Annex V of the additives regulation names, alongside tartrazine, sunset yellow, carmoisine, ponceau 4R and allura red: a food containing any of them must carry the words "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". No published assay places any of the six on the salicylate axis, and Annex V measures a different thing entirely. Two facts temper the group reading: quinoline yellow is the only one of the six that is NOT an azo dye, so the cross-reaction reasoning built on tartrazine does not transfer mechanically, and no provocation study of E 104 alone has been published - the EFSA, which cut its acceptable daily intake from 10 to 0.5 mg per kilo of body weight in 2009 on chronic-toxicity grounds, calls the sensitivity data insufficient. The level is a group reading, not a direct proof. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.