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Amaranth (E123) — What You Need to Know

Avoid(2/10)Synthetic

The score is an eNumbers.org editorial summary, not an official agency rating or medical advice. Start with the regulatory status and primary sources below.

What Is Amaranth?

Amaranth is a dark red to purple synthetic azo dye that was once widely used as a food coloring. It was banned by the FDA in 1976 after studies suggested potential carcinogenicity, making it one of the most well-known cases of a food dye being removed from the market. Despite sharing its name with the amaranth grain, the dye is entirely unrelated to the plant.

What Is It Used For?

Where still permitted, used in limited applications such as caviar and certain alcoholic beverages. Its use in the EU is extremely restricted due to the very low ADI.

Function: Synthetic red azo dye food coloring

Regulatory & Editorial Context

📊
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
0.15 mg/kg bw/day
🏛️
Regulatory Status
🇺🇸 USA (FDA): Banned (FD&C Red No. 2 delisted in 1976)
🇪🇺 EU (EFSA): Authorized at extremely low ADI
⚠️ Key Concerns

Amaranth was banned by the FDA in 1976 after studies showed potential carcinogenicity in rats, though the results were scientifically disputed at the time. EFSA maintains authorization but set an extremely low ADI of 0.15 mg/kg bw/day, reflecting the level of concern. The very low ADI effectively limits its practical use to very few food categories. It is part of the broader family of azo dyes that have come under increased scrutiny following the 2007 Southampton study on hyperactivity in children. Not related to the amaranth grain despite sharing the name. EU use is extremely limited in practice.

Editorial context score

eNumbers.org currently assigns Amaranth an editorial context label of Avoid with a score of 2/10. This is 3.8 points below the database average for colorings (5.8/10). Dataset reference year: 2010.

This score is not issued by EFSA, FDA, WHO or another regulator.

Commonly Found In

CaviarSome alcoholic beverages (where permitted)Confectionery (EU only, limited)

Always check the label for E123 or 'Amaranth'

▶Chemical Information
Formula: C20H11N2Na3O10S3
Molecular Weight: 604.47 g/mol
CAS Number: 915-67-3
INS Number: 123
Also known as: E123, FD&C Red No. 2 (historical), CI Food Red 9, Amaranth dye, INS 123

Frequently Asked Questions about Amaranth

Current dataset status: FDA — Banned (FD&C Red No. 2 delisted in 1976); EFSA/EU — Authorized at extremely low ADI. Reported concerns: Amaranth was banned by the FDA in 1976 after studies showed potential carcinogenicity in rats, though the results were scientifically disputed at the time. EFSA maintains authorization but set an extremely low ADI of 0.15 mg/kg bw/day, reflecting the level of concern. The very low ADI effectively limits its practical use to very few food categories. It is part of the broader family of azo dyes that have come under increased scrutiny following the 2007 Southampton study on hyperactivity in children. Not related to the amaranth grain despite sharing the name. EU use is extremely limited in practice. Regulatory status and individual risk are not the same; check the primary sources and permitted conditions of use.

Quick Facts

E-Number
E123
INS Number
123
Category
Colorings
Origin
Synthetic
FDA Status
Banned (FD&C Red No. 2 delisted in 1976)
EFSA Status
Authorized at extremely low ADI
ADI
0.15 mg/kg bw/day
Dataset Review
2010
Ingredient-level Dietary Notes
Vegan: ✅ YesHalal: ✅ YesKosher: ✅ YesGluten-Free: ✅ Yes

Carriers, processing aids and product certification can change suitability. Verify the final label and certifier.

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Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for health-related decisions.

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Allura Red AC (E129)Ponceau 4R (E124)Carmoisine (E122)Tartrazine (E102)