Lutein
Function: Food colours
E161B is the European food-additive number for Lutein, a colour added to give or restore colour to food. LUTEIN is a xanthophyll and one of 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids.
What is E161B used for?
Lutein (E161B) 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 E161B safe or restricted?
E161B is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as “Under monitoring” 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 E161B vegan or vegetarian?
Lutein (E161B) 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 product-specific vegan and vegetarian signals where available, based on ingredient and label data. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E161B?
E161B appears in 5,287 of the 5.0 million products in Forkin's catalogue, most often in Candy & Sweets, Gummy Candy, and Mayonnaise.
- Candy & Sweets472
- Gummy Candy433
- Mayonnaise293
- Flavored Syrups190
- Cakes156
- Dietary Supplements145
- Baby Formula (Powder)133
- Multivitamin129
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E161B 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 E161B
- What is E161B?
- E161B is the E-number for Lutein, a colour added to give or restore colour to food. LUTEIN is a xanthophyll and one of 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids.
- What is E161B used for?
- Lutein (E161B) 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 E161B?
- E161B appears in 5,287 of the 5.0 million products in Forkin's catalogue, most often in Candy & Sweets, Gummy Candy, and Mayonnaise. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E161B vegan or vegetarian?
- Lutein (E161B) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The Forkin app shows product-specific vegan and vegetarian signals where available, based on ingredient and label data, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E161B safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E161B is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as ‘Under monitoring’ 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.