Patent Blue V
Function: Artificial Color
E131 is the European food-additive number for Patent Blue V, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. PATENT BLUE V is a dark bluish synthetic triphenylmethane dye used as a food coloring.
What is E131 used for?
Patent Blue V (E131) 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 E131 safe or restricted?
E131 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 E131
- What is E131?
- E131 is the E-number for Patent Blue V, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. PATENT BLUE V is a dark bluish synthetic triphenylmethane dye used as a food coloring.
- What is E131 used for?
- Patent Blue V (E131) 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 E131 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 E131 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E131 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.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E131 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it.