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Lycopene (E160d) β€” What You Need to Know

Safe(9/10)Natural

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 Lycopene?

Lycopene is a naturally occurring red carotenoid pigment found abundantly in tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit. It is a powerful antioxidant that has been extensively studied for potential health benefits, particularly for cardiovascular and prostate health. Unlike beta-carotene, lycopene is not converted to vitamin A in the body.

What Is It Used For?

Provides red to orange-red coloring in beverages, confectionery, and processed foods. Also widely used as a dietary supplement due to its antioxidant properties.

Function: Red natural carotenoid food coloring extracted from tomatoes

Regulatory & Editorial Context

πŸ“Š
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
0.5 mg/kg bw/day
πŸ›οΈ
Regulatory Status
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ USA (FDA): GRAS (no objection for use as food color)
πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί EU (EFSA): Authorized; ADI of 0.5 mg/kg bw/day for synthetic lycopene as food color (set in 2008); natural dietary lycopene not limited
⚠️ Key Concerns

Powerful antioxidant carotenoid naturally present in tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit. Extensively studied for potential health benefits including prostate health and cardiovascular protection. EFSA set ADI of 0.5 mg/kg bw/day for synthetic lycopene used as food color in 2008. Natural dietary lycopene from tomato consumption is not limited. No significant safety concerns at normal dietary levels. Not converted to vitamin A in the body unlike beta-carotene.

Editorial context score

eNumbers.org currently assigns Lycopene an editorial context label of Safe with a score of 9/10. This is 3.2 points above the database average for colorings (5.8/10). Dataset reference year: 2008.

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

Commonly Found In

Tomato productsBeveragesBreakfast cerealsDietary supplementsConfectionery
Example brands:
Various supplement and food brands

Always check the label for E160d or 'Lycopene'

β–ΆChemical Information
Formula: C40H56
Molecular Weight: 536.87 g/mol
CAS Number: 502-65-8
INS Number: 160d
Also known as: E160d, Lycopene, INS 160d, ψ,ψ-Carotene

Frequently Asked Questions about Lycopene

Current dataset status: FDA β€” GRAS (no objection for use as food color); EFSA/EU β€” Authorized; ADI of 0.5 mg/kg bw/day for synthetic lycopene as food color (set in 2008); natural dietary lycopene not limited. Reported concerns: Powerful antioxidant carotenoid naturally present in tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit. Extensively studied for potential health benefits including prostate health and cardiovascular protection. EFSA set ADI of 0.5 mg/kg bw/day for synthetic lycopene used as food color in 2008. Natural dietary lycopene from tomato consumption is not limited. No significant safety concerns at normal dietary levels. Not converted to vitamin A in the body unlike beta-carotene. Regulatory status and individual risk are not the same; check the primary sources and permitted conditions of use.

Quick Facts

E-Number
E160d
INS Number
160d
Category
Colorings
Origin
Natural
FDA Status
GRAS (no objection for use as food color)
EFSA Status
Authorized; ADI of 0.5 mg/kg bw/day for synthetic lycopene as food color (set in 2008); natural dietary lycopene not limited
ADI
0.5 mg/kg bw/day
Dataset Review
2008
Ingredient-level Dietary Notes
Vegan: βœ… YesHalal: βœ… YesKosher: βœ… YesGluten-Free: βœ… 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.

Related Additives

Other colorings in the same family

Beta-Carotene (E160a)Paprika Extract (E160c)Annatto (E160b)Curcumin (E100)