Tartrazine is a common food colouring additive also known as FD&C yellow #5. It is added to most processed foods – especially candy, gummies and sauces – and can even be found in vitamin preparations, pharmaceutical drugs and anti-asthma prescription drugs. The concerns is that tartrazine promotes leukotriene formation. Leukotrienes are potent mediators of the allergic and inflammatory reaction through the arachidonic acid pathway and frequenly trigger asthma symptoms. Children are especially susceptible to tartrazine. Read your labels carefully, you will be surprised where you find FD&C yellow #5 or tartrazine.
