D&C Red No. 6
D&C Red No. 6 suppliers and sourcing guide
D&C Red No. 6 is a synthetic red azo color, principally the disodium salt of 3-hydroxy-4-[(4-methyl-2-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid. It is made by diazotizing 2-amino-5-methylbenzenesulfonic acid and coupling it with 3-hydroxy-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid, after which the dye precipitates as the disodium salt. It is a certified color for drugs and cosmetics, not food, and is widely sold as a barium lake for lipsticks and face color.
- Category
- Colors
- Also known as
- Lithol Rubine B · CI 15850 · CAS 5858-81-1 · D&C Red 6 Barium Lake
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of d&c red no. 6
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Straight color
The sodium salt as a powder at a stated total color content.
Barium lake
The common commercial form in lip and face color, a non-bleeding pigment made by laking the dye with a barium salt.
Aluminum lake
The dye laked onto alumina for tablet coatings and powders.
Pigment dispersions
Lakes pre-ground in castor oil or esters for lipstick production.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- FDA certification lot number
- Every batch of D&C Red No. 6 must carry an FDA certification lot number; check that the number on the COA, the certificate and the container match.
- Total color
- Pure dye content by spectrophotometry or titration against the 21 CFR part 74 minimum (not less than 90 percent); it sets how much color each kilogram delivers.
- Volatile matter and salts
- Volatile matter at 135 °C plus chlorides and sulfates (as sodium salts), which make up most of the non-dye portion of a straight color.
- Intermediates and p-toluidine
- Unreacted sulfonic acid and naphthoic acid salts, the unsulfonated subsidiary dye and p-toluidine (not more than 15 ppm) by HPLC, against 21 CFR 74.1306.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic and mercury by ICP-MS or AAS, reported against the limits in the color additive regulation and the supplier specification.
- Shade and strength vs. standard
- Hue and color strength compared with the supplier's retained standard, by drawdown or spectrophotometer, to catch shade drift between lots.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store in the original sealed containers in a cool, dry place away from light and heat; powders cake in humid rooms, and dust should be controlled because small amounts stain other products and equipment. Shelf life is set by the supplier, with total color and appearance retested once past the retest date. Keep each container's FDA certification lot number with the stock so it can be traced into finished batches.
Lots and expiry dates
Record the FDA certification lot number and total color of each lot of D&C Red No. 6, and adjust dosing when dye content differs from the previous lot. Compare shade against a retained standard in the finished product, since subsidiary-color and particle-size differences can shift hue.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 74.1306 permits D&C Red No. 6 in drugs as long as D&C Red No. 6 and D&C Red No. 7 combined do not exceed 5 mg per daily dose.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 74.2306 permits D&C Red No. 6 for coloring cosmetics generally.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)All batches of D&C Red No. 6 must be certified by FDA under 21 CFR part 80.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
D&C Red No. 6 suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking d&c red no. 6 suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell d&c red no. 6? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of d&c red no. 6 can brands buy?
Common forms include straight color, barium lake, aluminum lake and pigment dispersions. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for d&c red no. 6 include?
Expect fDA certification lot number, total color, volatile matter and salts, intermediates and p-toluidine, heavy metals and shade and strength vs. standard, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should d&c red no. 6 be stored?
Store in the original sealed containers in a cool, dry place away from light and heat; powders cake in humid rooms, and dust should be controlled because small amounts stain other products and equipment. Shelf life is set by the supplier, with total color and appearance retested once past the retest date. Keep each container's FDA certification lot number with the stock so it can be traced into finished batches.
What is the regulatory status of d&c red no. 6?
21 CFR 74.1306 permits D&C Red No. 6 in drugs as long as D&C Red No. 6 and D&C Red No. 7 combined do not exceed 5 mg per daily dose. 21 CFR 74.2306 permits D&C Red No. 6 for coloring cosmetics generally. All batches of D&C Red No. 6 must be certified by FDA under 21 CFR part 80.
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