Sudan Red G is a yellowish red lysochrome

Lysochrome

A lysochrome is a soluble dye used for biochemical staining of triglycerides, fatty acids, and lipoproteins. Lysochromes such as Sudan IV bind to the lipid in a substrate and show up as colored regions. The dye does not stick to any other substrates, so a quantification or qualification of lipid...

 azo dye. It has the appearance of an odorless reddish-orange powder with melting point 225 °C. It is soluble in fats and used for coloring of fats, oils, and waxes, including the waxes used in turpentine

Turpentine

Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from trees, mainly pine trees. It is composed of terpenes, mainly the monoterpenes alpha-pinene and beta-pinene...

-based polish

Polishing

Polishing is the process of creating a smooth and shiny surface by rubbing it or using a chemical action, leaving a surface with a significant specular reflection In some materials polishing is also able to reduce diffuse reflection to...

es. It is also used in polystyrene

Polystyrene

Polystyrene ) also known as Thermocole, abbreviated following ISO Standard PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry...

, cellulose

Cellulose

Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β linked D-glucose units....

, and synthetic lacquer

Lacquer

In a general sense, lacquer is a somewhat imprecise term for a clear or coloured varnish that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard, durable finish, in any sheen level from ultra matte to high gloss and that can be further polished as required...

s. It is insoluble in water. It is stable to temperatures of about 100-110 °C. It was used as a food dye. It is used in some temporary tattoo

Temporary tattoo

A Temporary Tattoo is a non-permanent image on the skin resembling a true tattoo. Temporary tattoos can be drawn, painted, or airbrushed, as a form of body painting, but most of the time these tattoos are transferred to the skin. Temporary tattoos of any kind are used for numerous purposes...

s, where it can cause contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a term for a skin reaction resulting from exposure to allergens or irritants . Phototoxic dermatitis occurs when the allergen or irritant is activated by sunlight....

. It is also used in hair dyes. It is a component of some newer formulas for red smoke signal

Smoke signal

The smoke signal is one of the oldest forms of communication in recorded history. It is a form of visual communication used over long distance.-History and usage:...

s and smoke-screen

Smoke-screen

thumb|right|205px|A [[U.S. Army]] [[Humvee]] laying a smoke screenA smoke screen is smoke released to mask the movement or location of military units such as infantry, tanks, aircraft or ships....

s, together with Disperse Red 11

Disperse Red 11

Disperse Red 11, also called C.I. 62015 and 1,4-diamino-2-methoxy anthraquinone, is a red dye derived from anthraquinone.Disperse Red 11 can be used in plastics and textiles industry to dye polyvinylchloride, acetate, polyester, polyamide, polyacryl and polyurethane materials and synthetic fibers,...

.

Other Names

There are various names for Sudan Red G, including Brilliant Fat Scarlet R, C.I. Food Red 16, C.I. Solvent Red I, C.I. 12150, Ceres Red G, Fat Red BG, Fat Red G. Lacquer Red V2G, Oil Pink, Oil Scarlet 389, Oil Vermilion, Oil Red G, Oleal Red G, Plastoresin Red FR, Red GD, Resinol Red G, Silotras Red TG, Solvent Red 1, Sudan R, and amethoxybenzenazo-β-naphthol (MBN).

Toxicity & Safety Issues

According to European Food Safety Authority

European Food Safety Authority

The European Food Safety Authority is an agency of the European Union that provides independent scientific advice and communication on existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain, created by European Regulation 178/2002....

, Sudan Red G is considered genotoxic and/or carcinogenic.