Red 2G food colouring molecule. Molecular model of Red 2G, an organic compound used as a food colouring. Red 2G, also known as E128, is used only in sausages and burgers in the UK and banned in Australia, Austria, the USA, Canada, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Israel, and Greece. There are concerns over this food colouring being carcinogenic, as it forms the toxic molecule aniline when ingested. Red 2G is also thought to interfere with blood haemoglobin molecules. Atoms are colour-coded: hydrogen (gold), carbon (orange), nitrogen (dark blue), sulphur (yellow) and oxygen (red).