Ponceau 4R is a synthetic red azo dye and is used as a food colorant. It is used in range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, food stuffs, preserved fruits and more. It exists as trisodium-2-hydroxy-1-(4-sulfonato-1-naphthylazo)-6,8-naphthalenedisulphonate.

Ponceau 4R was used in the determination of contents of several additives in different non-alcoholic beverages using HPLC. It was used in understanding the genotoxicity of colorants. It was also used in preparing a falsified drink in the analysis of methanol-ethanol mixture using biosensors amperometric system.