Lutein
Function: Color
E161B is the European food-additive number for Lutein, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. LUTEIN is a xanthophyll and one of 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids.
What is E161B used for?
Lutein (E161B) is a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition.
Is E161B safe or restricted?
E161B is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as “Under monitoring” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned.
Frequently asked questions about E161B
- What is E161B?
- E161B is the E-number for Lutein, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. LUTEIN is a xanthophyll and one of 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids.
- What is E161B used for?
- Lutein (E161B) is a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Is E161B vegan or vegetarian?
- It depends on the source. Many additives can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which was used. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product where it's known, instead of a blanket guess.
- Is E161B safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E161B is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as "Under monitoring" and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E161B — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it.