Brilliant Black BN

E151 is the European food-additive number for Brilliant Black BN, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. Brilliant Black BN (E151) is a colour used as a food additive.

What is E151 used for?

Brilliant Black BN (E151) 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 E151 safe or restricted?

E151 is banned or severely restricted in one or more jurisdictions. Forkin classifies it as “Banned / Severely restricted” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned.

Frequently asked questions about E151

What is E151?

E151 is the E-number for Brilliant Black BN, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. Brilliant Black BN (E151) is a colour used as a food additive.

What is E151 used for?

Brilliant Black BN (E151) 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 E151 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 E151 safe, and is it banned anywhere?

E151 is banned or severely restricted in one or more jurisdictions. Forkin classifies it as "Banned / Severely restricted" 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.

Related additives (Artificial Color)

• E102 Tartrazine
• E104 Quinoline Yellow
• E110 Sunset Yellow FCF
• E122 Azorubine (Carmoisine)
• E123 Amaranth
• E124 Ponceau 4R (Cochineal Red A)
• E127 Erythrosine
• E129 Allura Red AC