tartrazine

[ tahr-truh-zeen, -zin ]

noun

1. Yellow No. 5.

tartrazine

/ -zɪn; ˈtɑːtrəˌziːn /

noun

1. an azo dye that produces a yellow colour: widely used as a food additive ( E102 ) in convenience foods, soft drinks, sweets, etc, and in drugs, and also to dye textiles

Word History and Origins

Origin of tartrazine¹

1890–95; tartr- (combining form representing tartar ) + azine

Example Sentences

In the realm of additives, substances like tartrazine and sodium benzoate emerge as potential instigators of urticaria and asthma.

From Salon

Sulfites in dried fruit and tartrazine in food dyes can cause asthma exacerbations.

From New York Times

In one sense, this is no more than a savvy pre-Christmas marketing campaign, but Cards Against Humanity has been bashing the US’s tartrazine God-emperor for a long time now.

From The Guardian

Earlier this year there were reports of the synthetic food colourings tartrazine and sunset yellow being used in counterfeit powdered saffron.

From BBC

Bad news, cereal lovers: It’s about to get harder to start your day with a rich, comforting bowl of tartrazine.

From Time