Food additive reference
Food colours (E-numbers)
Food colours (E100–E199) are added to give or restore colour to food and drink. They range from natural extracts like curcumin (E100) and beetroot red (E162) to synthetic azo dyes. Several colours carry EU labelling requirements.
64 additives in this class, grouped by regulatory level. Informational only — not medical or dietary advice; see the methodology.
- E100CurcuminUnder monitoring
- E101Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)No regulatory flags
- E101IRiboflavinNo regulatory flags
- E101IIRiboflavin-5′-phosphateNo regulatory flags
- E102TartrazineRestricted use
- E104Quinoline YellowRegulatory attention
- E110Sunset Yellow FCFRestricted use
- E120Cochineal/CarmineNo regulatory flags
- E122Azorubine (Carmoisine)Regulatory attention
- E123AmaranthBanned / Severely restricted
- E124Ponceau 4R (Cochineal Red A)Regulatory attention
- E127ErythrosineBanned / Severely restricted
- E128Red 2GBanned / Severely restricted
- E129Allura Red ACRestricted use
- E131Patent Blue VBanned / Severely restricted
- E132Indigotine (Indigo Carmine)Regulatory attention
- E133Brilliant Blue FCFRestricted use
- E140Chlorophylls and ChlorophyllinsNo regulatory flags
- E140IChlorophyllsNo regulatory flags
- E140IIChlorophyllinsNo regulatory flags
- E141Copper Complexes of ChlorophyllUnder monitoring
- E141ICopper complexes of chlorophyllsUnder monitoring
- E141IICopper complexes of chlorophyllinsUnder monitoring
- E142Green SBanned / Severely restricted
- E143Fast Green FCFRegulatory attention
- E150CaramelNo regulatory flags
- E150APlain CaramelUnder monitoring
- E150BCaustic Sulphite CaramelUnder monitoring
- E150CAmmonia CaramelRegulatory attention
- E150DSulphite Ammonia CaramelRegulatory attention
- E151Brilliant Black BNBanned / Severely restricted
- E153Vegetable Carbon (Carbon Black)No regulatory flags
- E155Brown htBanned / Severely restricted
- E160ACarotenesNo regulatory flags
- E160AIBeta-caroteneUnder monitoring
- E160AIIPlant carotenesUnder monitoring
- E160AIIIBeta-carotene from blakeslea trisporaNo regulatory flags
- E160AIVAlgal carotenesNo regulatory flags
- E160BAnnattoUnder monitoring
- E160BIAnnatto bixinNo regulatory flags
- E160BIIAnnatto norbixinNo regulatory flags
- E160CPaprika ExtractNo regulatory flags
- E160DLycopeneNo regulatory flags
- E160EBeta-apo-8′-carotenal (c30)Under monitoring
- E160FEthyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid (C 30)Under monitoring
- E161BLuteinUnder monitoring
- E161GCanthaxanthinNo regulatory flags
- E161HZeaxanthinNo regulatory flags
- E162Beetroot RedNo regulatory flags
- E163AnthocyaninsNo regulatory flags
- E163ACyanidinNo regulatory flags
- E163BDelphinidinNo regulatory flags
- E163CMalvidinNo regulatory flags
- E163DPelargonidinNo regulatory flags
- E163EPeonidinNo regulatory flags
- E163FPetunidinNo regulatory flags
- E164saffronNo regulatory flags
- E172IBlack iron oxideNo regulatory flags
- E172IIRed iron oxideNo regulatory flags
- E172IIIYellow iron oxideNo regulatory flags
- E181TanninNo regulatory flags
- E375Nicotinic acidNo regulatory flags
- E512Stannous Chloride (Tin)No regulatory flags
- E519Copper sulphateNo regulatory flags
Questions about food colours
- What are food colours?
- Food colours are food additives that act as colour — added to give or restore colour to food. In the EU they are identified by E-numbers and approved under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
- Which E-numbers are food colours?
- Forkin tracks 64 food colours — for example Curcumin (E100), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) (E101), Riboflavin (E101I), Riboflavin-5′-phosphate (E101II). The full list with each one's regulatory level is on this page.
- Are food colours vegan?
- It depends on the individual additive and its source — many can be produced from plant, mineral or animal-derived raw materials, and the label rarely says which. The Forkin app shows verified vegan and vegetarian status per product.
Check what's in your food with Forkin
Scan any barcode and Forkin flags the food colours and other additives a product contains, with each one's regulatory level. See how Forkin compares to other scanners or view pricing.