Tartrazine is synthetic lemon yellow AZO dye that finds use as food coloring agent. It is derived from petroleum and is water soluble with maximum absorbance in aqueous solution. It finds use in many of the products including processed commercial foods having artificial green or yellow color, desserts, confectionery, cotton candy, cake mixes, pastries.

Other than this, it is also used in beverages like soft drinks; snacks like flavored corn chips; condiments and spreads like jam & jelly as well as in other processed foods like cereal, noodles and others.