Food additive reference
Food colours (E-numbers)
Food colours include natural extracts and synthetic dyes. Some carry specific EU labelling requirements.
89 additives in this category, grouped by regulatory level. Informational only — not medical or dietary advice; see the methodology.
- E100CurcuminUnder monitoring
- E101Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)No flags
- E101IRiboflavinNo flags
- E101IIRiboflavin-5′-phosphateNo flags
- E102TartrazineRestricted use
- E103AlkanninNo flags
- E104Quinoline YellowRestricted use
- E105Fast Yellow ABNo flags
- E106flavin mononucleotideNo flags
- E107Yellow 2GNo flags
- E110Sunset Yellow FCFRestricted use
- E111Orange GGNNo flags
- E120Cochineal/CarmineNo flags
- E121Citrus Red 2No flags
- E122Azorubine (Carmoisine)Restricted use
- E123AmaranthBanned or severely restricted
- E124Ponceau 4R (Cochineal Red A)Restricted use
- E125Scarlet GNRegulatory attention
- E126Ponceau 6RNo flags
- E127ErythrosineBanned or severely restricted
- E128Red 2GBanned or severely restricted
- E129Allura Red ACRestricted use
- E130Indanthrene blue RSNo flags
- E131Patent Blue VBanned or severely restricted
- E132Indigotine (Indigo Carmine)No flags
- E133Brilliant Blue FCFRegulatory attention
- E140Chlorophylls and ChlorophyllinsNo flags
- E140IChlorophyllsNo flags
- E140IIChlorophyllinsNo flags
- E141Copper Complexes of ChlorophyllUnder monitoring
- E141ICopper complexes of chlorophyllsUnder monitoring
- E141IICopper complexes of chlorophyllinsUnder monitoring
- E142Green SBanned or severely restricted
- E143Fast Green FCFNo flags
- E150CaramelNo flags
- E150APlain CaramelUnder monitoring
- E150BCaustic Sulphite CaramelUnder monitoring
- E150CAmmonia CaramelRestricted use
- E150DSulphite Ammonia CaramelRegulatory attention
- E151Brilliant Black BNBanned or severely restricted
- E152Black 7984No flags
- E153Vegetable Carbon (Carbon Black)No flags
- E154Brown FKBanned or severely restricted
- E155Brown htBanned or severely restricted
- E160CarotenoidsNo flags
- E160ACarotenesNo flags
- E160AIBeta-caroteneUnder monitoring
- E160AIIPlant carotenesUnder monitoring
- E160AIIIBeta-carotene from blakeslea trisporaNo flags
- E160AIVAlgal carotenesNo flags
- E160BAnnattoUnder monitoring
- E160BIAnnatto bixinNo flags
- E160BIIAnnatto norbixinNo flags
- E160CPaprika ExtractNo flags
- E160DLycopeneNo flags
- E160EBeta-apo-8′-carotenal (c30)Under monitoring
- E160FEthyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid (C 30)Under monitoring
- E161XanthophyllsNo flags
- E161BLuteinUnder monitoring
- E161GCanthaxanthinNo flags
- E161HZeaxanthinNo flags
- E162Beetroot RedNo flags
- E163AnthocyaninsNo flags
- E163ACyanidinNo flags
- E163BDelphinidinNo flags
- E163CMalvidinNo flags
- E163DPelargonidinNo flags
- E163EPeonidinNo flags
- E163FPetunidinNo flags
- E164saffronNo flags
- E165Gardenia BlueNo flags
- E166SandalwoodNo flags
- E170Calcium carbonatesUnder monitoring
- E171Titanium DioxideBanned or severely restricted
- E172Iron Oxides and HydroxidesUnder monitoring
- E172IBlack iron oxideUnder monitoring
- E172IIRed iron oxideUnder monitoring
- E172IIIYellow iron oxideUnder monitoring
- E173AluminiumNo flags
- E174SilverUnder monitoring
- E175GoldNo flags
- E180Litholrubine bkBanned or severely restricted
- E181TanninNo flags
- E182OrceinNo flags
- E375Nicotinic acidNo flags
- E512Stannous Chloride (Tin)No flags
- E519Copper sulphateNo flags
- E579iron gluconateNo flags
- E585Ferrous lactateNo flags
Questions about Food colours
- What are Food colours?
- Food colours are a regulatory class of food additives. Their technological function is: give or restore colour to food. In the EU, permitted uses are governed by Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.
- Which E-numbers belong to Food colours?
- Forkin tracks 89 additives in this category, including Curcumin (E100), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) (E101), Riboflavin (E101I), Riboflavin-5′-phosphate (E101II). This page lists their regulatory levels.
- Are Food colours vegan?
- It depends on the individual additive and its source. The Forkin app shows product-specific vegan and vegetarian signals where available, based on ingredient and label data, rather than guessing from the category.
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