Carmoisine (E122) — What You Need to Know
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 Carmoisine?
Carmoisine is a synthetic red azo dye also known as Azorubine. Like other azo dyes, it is part of the 'Southampton Six' group identified in studies linking food colorings to hyperactivity in children. It is banned in several countries including the United States.
What Is It Used For?
Produces a deep red color in jams, jellies, candy, marzipan, and some drinks. Used as a replacement for natural red dyes in processed foods.
Exposure figures are population-level references, not personal limits. Actual intake varies by diet, product and jurisdiction.
Regulatory & Editorial Context
One of the 'Southampton Six' colorings. EU requires warning: 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.' Not approved for food use in the USA, Canada, and several other countries.
eNumbers.org currently assigns Carmoisine an editorial context label of Questionable with a score of 3/10. This is 2.8 points below the database average for colorings (5.8/10). Dataset reference year: 2012. The dataset's population estimate equals about 0.1% of the listed ADI.
This score is not issued by EFSA, FDA, WHO or another regulator.
Commonly Found In
Always check the label for E122 or 'Carmoisine'
▶Chemical Information
Frequently Asked Questions about Carmoisine
Quick Facts
- E-Number
- E122
- INS Number
- 122
- Category
- Colorings
- Origin
- Synthetic
- FDA Status
- Not approved
- EFSA Status
- Authorized (with hyperactivity warning label)
- ADI
- 4 mg/kg bw/day
- Dataset Review
- 2012
Carriers, processing aids and product certification can change suitability. Verify the final label and certifier.
Quick Links
Related Additives
Other colorings in the same family