Frank’s RedHot has been a household favorite for more than a century due to its distinct spicy flavor that adds a zing to various dishes, including eggs, chili, and chicken wings. In fact, its sauce was used on the first Buffalo wings invented at the Anchor Bar & Grill in Buffalo, New York.
However, one question many people often ask about Frank’s RedHot is whether it includes red dye as an ingredient. Read on for a clear answer to the question.
Is There Red Dye In Frank’s RedHot?
The answer is no, Frank’s RedHot does not contain red dye as an ingredient. In fact, all of the different varieties of Frank’s RedHot sauces do not contain red dye.
The table provided shows the ingredients for each of the different products offered by Frank’s RedHot and whether or not they contain red dye. As you can see, none of the products listed have red or other dyes.
The color of Frank’s RedHot products comes naturally from its ingredients like cayenne red peppers and paprika. There is no need for artificial or synthetic dyes to be used since their natural color is appealing to most consumers.
Keep in mind that if any Frank’s RedHot product contained a red dye, such as Red 40, it would be disclosed in the ingredients list on the label to satisfy U.S. labeling requirements.
| Frank’s RedHot Product | Red Dye (Yes or No)? | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Original | No | Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Salt, And Garlic Powder. |
| Buffalo Wings Hot Sauce | No | Distilled Vinegar, Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Salt, Water, Canola Oil, Paprika, Xanthan Gum, Natural Butter Type Flavor, And Garlic Powder. |
| Nashville Hot Wing Sauce | No | Distilled Vinegar, Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Sugar, Canola Oil, Water, Molasses, Salt, Spices (Including Black Pepper, Paprika), Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Modified Corn Starch, Xanthan Gum (Thickener) & Natural Flavor. |
| Smokin’ Sweet BBQ Swings Sauce | No | Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Aged Red Cayenne Peppers, Salt, Molasses, Water, Modified Corn Starch, Spices (Included Smoked Paprika, Chipotle Pepper), Natural Flavor (Including Smoke), Canola Oil, Garlic Powder & Xanthan Gum (Thickener). |
| Hot Buffalo Wings Sauce | No | Water, Sugar, Red Chili Peppers, Salt, Garlic, Modified Food Starch, And Acetic Acid. |
| Xtra Hot Sauce | No | Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Vinegar, Water, Salt, Natural Flavor, And Garlic Powder. |
| Sweet Chili Hot Sauce | No | Water, Sugar, Red Chili Peppers, Salt, Garlic, Modified Food Starch And Acetic Acid. |
| Stingin’ Honey Teriyaki Wing Sauce | No | Sugar, Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Water, Honey, Molasses, Modified Corn Starch, Crushed Garlic, Garlic Powder, Salt, Citric Acid, Ground Cayenne Pepper, Onion Powder, Sodium Benzoate (As A Preservative), Natural Flavors (Soy) & Soy Lecithin. |
| Garlic Buffalo Wings Sauce | No | Distilled Vinegar, Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Salt, Water, Canola Oil, Paprika, Natural Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Natural Butter Type Flavor, And Garlic Powder. |
| Mild Wing Sauce | No | Distilled Vinegar, Water, Aged Red Cayenne Peppers, Salt, Canola Oil, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Molasses, Garlic Powder, Spices (Including Paprika, Celery Seed), Xanthan Gum (Thickener & Natural Flavor. |
| Dill Pickle Hot Sauce | No | Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Pickle Juice (Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Lactic Acid, Natural Flavor, Turmeric), Water, Salt, Xanthan Gum (Thickener), Dill Weed, Natural Flavor, Garlic Powder, Extractives Of Turmeric & Extractives Of Capsicum. |
| Injector Marinade | No | Distilled Vinegar, Water, Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Salt, Spices (Including Black Pepper), Xantham Gum (Thickener), Potassium Sorbate An Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Quality), Garlic Powder & Natural Flavor. |
| Spicy Honey Bourbon Thick Hot Sauce | No | Frank’s Hot Sauce (Aged Red Cayenne Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Salt, Garlic Powder), Sugar, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Tomato Paste, Cane Molasses, Honey, Modified Corn Starch, Bourbon, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Quality), Salt & Natural Flavor (Including Smoke). |
| Original Thick Hot Sauce | No | Frank’s Hot Sauce (Aged Red Cayenne Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Salt, Garlic Powder), Water, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Garlic, Paprika & Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Quality). |
| Buffalo ‘N BBQ Thick Sauce | No | Frank’s Hot Sauce (Aged Red Cayenne Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Salt, Garlic Powder), Sugar, Tomato Paste, Water, Cane Molasses, Distilled Vinegar, Modified Corn Starch, Salt, Natural Flavor (Including Hickory Smoke), Spices, Garlic, Onion & Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Quality). |
| Buffalo ‘N Ranch Thick Hot Sauce | No | Soybean Oil, Water, Frank’s Hot Sauce (Aged Red Cayenne Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Salt, Garlic Powder), Distilled Vinegar, Cultured Buttermilk (Skim Milk, Cream, Salt, Natural Flavor), Sugar, Egg Yolks, Modified Corn Starch, Salt, Spices (Including Paprika), Garlic, Onion, Yeast Extract, Xanthan Gum (Thickener), Lactic Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Sour Cream (Cream, Nonfat Milk, Cultures), Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Quality), Calcium Disodium Edta (To Protect Quality) & Natural Flavor. |
Final Thoughts
All the varieties of Frank’s RedHot products featured above do not contain red dye as an ingredient. The natural ingredients used in the sauce, like cayenne red peppers and paprika, give the sauce its distinctive color, making it unnecessary to use artificial or synthetic dyes.
The disclosure of ingredients on the label of any product containing a red dye is a requirement in the US. As such, it is important to read the ingredients on the label if you wish to avoid consuming red dyes.