Tartrazine
Function: Artificial Color
E102 is the European food-additive number for Tartrazine, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. TARTRAZINE is a synthetic lemon yellow azo dye primarily used as a food coloring.
What is E102 used for?
Tartrazine (E102) 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 E102 safe or restricted?
E102 faces restrictions under EU rules on how, where, or in what quantities it may be used. Forkin classifies it as “Restricted use” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned.
Frequently asked questions about E102
- What is E102?
- E102 is the E-number for Tartrazine, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. TARTRAZINE is a synthetic lemon yellow azo dye primarily used as a food coloring.
- What is E102 used for?
- Tartrazine (E102) 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 E102 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 E102 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E102 faces restrictions under EU rules on how, where, or in what quantities it may be used. Forkin classifies it as "Restricted use" 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 E102 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it.