Dyes and additives

Citrus Red 2 and Orange B: two dyes on their way out

Two certified colors were never allowed in food in general: one on the skins of oranges, one on sausage casings. The FDA acted on both in July 2026.

Is this dye or additive banned in your state?

Try a date in 2027 or 2028 to see what changes.

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Citrus Red No. 2 in California, November 5, 2026

Allowed: no state law found

FDAStill allowed; FDA proposed a ban Allowed only on the skins of mature oranges not intended for processing. FDA proposed to revoke the listing on July 23, 2026 (91 FR 46330), finding it has not been certified for food sold in the United States since 2020; comments closed August 24, 2026. No final order in the Federal Register as of November 1, 2026.
State lawNot confirmed: we found no enacted California law naming Citrus Red 2 at the official sources we read.

Citrus Red No. 2, E121, CAS 6358-53-8. School rules cover food served or sold to students, not grocery shelves. Legal status only, not health advice.

All dye and additive rules in California

Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B were the two certified colors limited to a single use each. Citrus Red 2 may be applied only to the skins of mature oranges that are not intended for processing, at up to 2 parts per million of the whole fruit. Orange B was allowed only on the casings or surfaces of frankfurters and sausages. On July 23, 2026, the FDA published two documents. One revoked the listing of Orange B, which the agency found had been abandoned, effective September 8, 2026. The other proposed revoking Citrus Red 2 as well, with comments accepted until August 24, 2026; no final order had appeared in the Federal Register by November 1, 2026, so the dye remains allowed on orange peels until one does. Texas and Louisiana list both among the ingredients covered by their label or school rules.

Which states keep this dye out of school food?

School-food rules naming Citrus Red 2

1 state

Texas: the 2026-2027 school year (food contracts entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2026) (in effect)
Read the school meal rules →

Laws and FDA orders read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources

Who would notice the change

Citrus Red 2 is used to even out the color of some oranges sold fresh. Since peels are rarely eaten, the practical question is mostly zest and candied peel. Orange B had no known current use, which is why the FDA treated it as abandoned. The status of Citrus Red 2 will change on the site once a final order is published.

A naming oddity in Texas

The Texas school-meal law lists "citrus red 3" with a chemical registry number that belongs to Citrus Red 2. We read it as Citrus Red 2 and say so on the Texas page.

Citrus Red 2: identity and federal status

Read on November 1, 2026.
Name in the federal rulesCitrus Red No. 2
Other names on labelsnone
E number (EU)E121
CAS number6358-53-8
Federal rule21 CFR 74.302
FDA statusAllowed only on the skins of mature oranges not intended for processing. FDA proposed to revoke the listing on July 23, 2026 (91 FR 46330), finding it has not been certified for food sold in the United States since 2020; comments closed August 24, 2026. No final order in the Federal Register as of November 1, 2026.

State laws that name Citrus Red 2

2 states; laws read on November 1, 2026.
StateLawScopeFromStatus today
TexasSB 25 (89th Legislature, 2025)package labellabels developed or copyrighted on or after January 1, 2027Enacted, a court order bars enforcement against some companies
TexasSB 314 (89th Legislature, 2025)school foodthe 2026-2027 school year (food contracts entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2026)In effect
LouisianaSB 14 (2025)package labelDecember 31, 2028Enacted, not yet in effect

Orange B: identity and federal status

Read on November 1, 2026.
Name in the federal rulesOrange B
Other names on labelsnone
E number (EU)none
CAS number15139-76-1
Federal rule21 CFR 74.250 (removed)
FDA statusWas allowed only on casings or surfaces of frankfurters and sausages. FDA revoked the listing as abandoned (91 FR 46276, July 23, 2026), effective September 8, 2026.

State laws that name Orange B

1 state; laws read on November 1, 2026.
StateLawScopeFromStatus today
TexasSB 314 (89th Legislature, 2025)school foodthe 2026-2027 school year (food contracts entered into or renewed on or after September 1, 2026)In effect

Questions people ask

Which states have a law naming Citrus Red 2?

As of November 1, 2026, 2 states: Texas and Louisiana. By kind of rule: all food sold in the state, none; school food, Texas; package labels, Texas and Louisiana. Each rule has its own start date, given in the table on this page with a link to the text.

What is the FDA status of Citrus Red 2 today?

Still allowed; FDA proposed a ban. Allowed only on the skins of mature oranges not intended for processing. FDA proposed to revoke the listing on July 23, 2026 (91 FR 46330), finding it has not been certified for food sold in the United States since 2020; comments closed August 24, 2026. No final order in the Federal Register as of November 1, 2026. The federal rule applies in every state, before any state law, and is read in the Federal Register and the electronic Code of Federal Regulations.

How does Citrus Red 2 appear on an ingredient list?

It is written by its name, Citrus Red No. 2, and products made for Europe print E121. Federal rule 21 CFR 74.302 governs its use. A certified dye must be named in the list rather than covered by "artificial color", and a lake form must keep the word "Lake".

Which states have a law naming Orange B?

As of November 1, 2026, 1 state: Texas. By kind of rule: all food sold in the state, none; school food, Texas; package labels, none. Each rule has its own start date, given in the table on this page with a link to the text.

What is the FDA status of Orange B today?

Banned nationwide by FDA. Was allowed only on casings or surfaces of frankfurters and sausages. FDA revoked the listing as abandoned (91 FR 46276, July 23, 2026), effective September 8, 2026. The federal rule applies in every state, before any state law, and is read in the Federal Register and the electronic Code of Federal Regulations.

How does Orange B appear on an ingredient list?

It is written by its name, Orange B. Federal rule 21 CFR 74.250 (removed) governs its use. A certified dye must be named in the list rather than covered by "artificial color", and a lake form must keep the word "Lake".

Check next

Dye laws by state

Pick a state and a dye or additive: the FDA rule, every state law that names it, and the date each one starts.

Ingredient list checker

Paste an ingredient list: every tracked dye or additive found, by FD&C name, lake, E or INS number, with its status in your state.

List of artificial food dyes

The nine synthetic dyes certified by the FDA for food, their other names and E numbers, and the status of each.

FDA phase-out

What the FDA has ordered (Red 3, BVO, Orange B), proposed (Citrus Red 2) and only requested (six dyes by the end of 2027).

States banning food dyes

Every state with an enacted dye or additive law, what it covers, from when, and the bills still pending or not confirmed.

Laws and official pages behind this page

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Independent publisher of a state-by-state tracker of food dye and additive laws in the United States, with an ingredient-list checker built on USDA FoodData Central

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Food dye and additive rules 2026, read in each state law and in the Federal Register, last checked on