Copper sulphate
Function: Colour Retention Agent
E519 is the European food-additive number for Copper sulphate, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. Copper sulphate (E519) is a colour retention agent used as a food additive.
What is E519 used for?
Copper sulphate (E519) 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. See all food colours (E-numbers).
Is E519 safe or restricted?
E519 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as “No regulatory flags” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E519 vegan or vegetarian?
Copper sulphate (E519) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
The production source can vary between manufacturers — the Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E519?
E519 appears in 2,936 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in baby formula (powder), protein powder / shake and dietary supplements.
- Baby Formula (Powder)875
- Protein Powder / Shake469
- Dietary Supplements331
- Multivitamin166
- Energy Drink64
- Baby Formula (Liquid)45
- Protein Bars37
- Dry Dog Food (Kibble)34
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E519 across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added — they are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E519
- What is E519?
- E519 is the E-number for Copper sulphate, a colour — added to give or restore colour to food. Copper sulphate (E519) is a colour retention agent used as a food additive.
- What is E519 used for?
- Copper sulphate (E519) 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.
- Which foods contain E519?
- E519 appears in 2,936 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in baby formula (powder), protein powder / shake and dietary supplements. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E519 vegan or vegetarian?
- Copper sulphate (E519) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E519 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E519 is an approved food additive in the EU and currently carries no special regulatory restrictions in the EU additive register. Forkin classifies it as "No regulatory flags" 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 E519 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See how Forkin compares to other scanners or view pricing.