Synthetic color additives approved for general food use are sixteen in European Union, seven in U. S. A. and twelve in Japan. Twelve food dyes were examined for their inhibitory potency against human protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases). Half of the food colorants inhibited PTPases significantly and three of them were potent inhibitors with low micromolar IC50 values. Also examined were the synthetic dyes structurally similar but not allowed in food. Some of them were potent inhibitors of PTPases. Considering the importance of PTPases in cellular signal transduction, inhibition of PTPases by food colorants might cause harmful effects in human health.