Red 40-Free Snacks

This hub rounds up snacks made without Red 40 (aka Allura Red AC), the bright, workhorse dye that shows up in everything from gummies to sports drinks. If you’re avoiding it for personal preference, potential sensitivity, or just a “fewer artificial additives” vibe, you’ll find options that lean on fruit and veggie extracts, spices, or no added color at all. Think apple chips, fruit snacks colored with beet juice, and allergy-friendly cookies with naturally tinted sprinkles. Real talk: Red 40-free doesn’t automatically mean “healthier.” A gummy colored with beet juice is still a gummy; sugar, sodium, and fiber matter more to your day-to-day nutrition. Natural colors can fade, vary batch to batch, and sometimes cost more. Budget-wise, you’ll pay a premium for many specialty brands, but store brands and uncolored classics (popcorn, pretzels, nuts, plain chips) are lower-cost wins. Also, scan labels for other synthetic dyes (Red 3, Yellow 5, Blue 1). If a package says “colors from natural sources” or “no artificial colors,” you’re generally in the clear for Red 40, but still peek at the ingredient list to be sure.

Key Benefits

• Avoids Red 40 while keeping familiar snack formats kids actually eat.
• Simplifies label-reading for families managing dye sensitivities or preferences.
• Leans on plant-based color sources like beet juice, paprika, or turmeric.
• Easier to pack for schools with “no artificial colors” guidelines.
• Plenty of budget-friendly picks when you choose naturally uncolored snacks.