Determination and health risk assessment of Tartrazine and Sunset Yellow in marketed branded soft drinks and food products

Synthetic azo dyes such as Tartrazine (E102) and Sunset Yellow FCF (E110) are extensively used in food and beverages, raising concerns about excessive intake and potential health risks, especially in children. Hence, this study determined the concentrations of Tartrazine and Sunset Yellow in commercially available soft drinks, fruit juices, and custards marketed in Nigeria using validated UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) were calculated for both adults and children to evaluate potential health risks. The method showed excellent linearity (R² > 0.999), good precision (RSD < 3%), satisfactory recoveries (92–105%), and low limits of detection and quantification, confirming reliability. Sunset Yellow concentrations ranged from 12.67 to 580.43 mg L⁻¹, while Tartrazine concentrations varied from 16.49 to 380.45 mg L⁻¹. Custards exhibited significantly higher dye levels compared to soft drinks and fruit juices. Health risk assessment revealed that HQ values for Tartrazine were continuously 1) for Sunset Yellow in children, suggesting potential adverse health effects. Thus, the present findings highlight the critical need for more stringent controls and monitoring of synthetic dyes in locally marketed food products. Children may be at risk from intake of custards in particular, so increased monitoring is necessary to protect consumers safety.