Erythrosine (E127) — 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 Erythrosine?
Erythrosine is a cherry-pink synthetic dye belonging to the xanthene class (not an azo dye). It contains four iodine atoms per molecule, which distinguishes it from most other food colorings. Known in the US as FD&C Red No. 3, it has been used primarily in candied cherries, cake decorations, and candy, but the FDA revoked its authorization in January 2025 with a phase-out period ending in 2027.
What Is It Used For?
Used as a bright cherry-red coloring in candied cherries, cake decorations, candy, sausage casings, and certain medications. Its distinctive pink-red hue is difficult to replicate with other approved colorings.
Exposure figures are population-level references, not personal limits. Actual intake varies by diet, product and jurisdiction.
Regulatory & Editorial Context
FDA revoked the U.S. authorisations for FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs in January 2025. Manufacturers have until 15 January 2027 for food and 18 January 2028 for ingested drugs to reformulate.
FDA: FD&C Red No. 3 ↗Erythrosine contains four iodine atoms per molecule, and high doses have been shown to affect thyroid function in animal studies. EFSA set an extremely low ADI of 0.1 mg/kg bw/day reflecting these concerns. In January 2025, the FDA revoked authorization for FD&C Red No. 3 in food under the Delaney Clause, which prohibits any food additive shown to cause cancer in humans or animals. Animal studies showed erythrosine caused thyroid tumors in male rats at very high doses, though the mechanism was considered rat-specific and unlikely to apply to humans. The FDA ban takes effect January 15, 2027 for food and January 18, 2028 for ingested drugs. Erythrosine remains authorized in the EU but at a very low ADI.
eNumbers.org currently assigns Erythrosine 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: 2011. The dataset's population estimate equals about 2.1% of the listed ADI.
This score is not issued by EFSA, FDA, WHO or another regulator.
Commonly Found In
Always check the label for E127 or 'Erythrosine'
▶Chemical Information
Primary Sources
Source review: 2026-08-08Official references relevant to this page. Check the agency record for current permitted uses, limits and jurisdiction-specific wording.
- European Commission: EU Food Additives Database ↗EU authorisations and conditions of use
- WHO / FAO JECFA: JECFA food-additives database ↗International evaluations and acceptable daily intakes
- European Food Safety Authority: Food colours ↗EFSA colour-additive evaluations and re-evaluation programme
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Food Additive Status List ↗U.S. food-ingredient regulatory references
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FD&C Red No. 3 ↗2025 U.S. revocation and compliance dates
Frequently Asked Questions about Erythrosine
Quick Facts
- E-Number
- E127
- INS Number
- 127
- Category
- Colorings
- Origin
- Synthetic
- FDA Status
- FD&C Red No. 3 — authorization revoked January 2025 (ban effective January 15, 2027 for food; January 18, 2028 for ingested drugs)
- EFSA Status
- Authorized at extremely low ADI
- ADI
- 0.1 mg/kg bw/day
- Dataset Review
- 2011
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