🎨
Colorings in Food — Complete Guide
Food colorings are additives used to change or enhance the color of food and beverages. They can be derived from natural sources like fruits, vegetables, and minerals, or produced synthetically. Colorings are one of the most regulated categories of food additives, as many synthetic dyes have been linked to behavioral effects in children.
10
Safe
6
Generally Safe
8
Caution
11
Questionable
3
Avoid
🟢 Safest Colorings
- Beetroot Red (Betanin) (E162)Safe(10/10)
- Calcium Carbonate (E170)Safe(10/10)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) (E101)Safe(10/10)
⚠️ Most Controversial Colorings
- Red 2G (E128)Avoid(1/10)
- Amaranth (E123)Avoid(2/10)
- Titanium Dioxide (E171)Avoid(2/10)
All Colorings (38)
| E-Number ↕ | Name ↕ | Safety ↓ | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| E162 | Beetroot Red (Betanin) | Safe(10/10) | Natural |
| E170 | Calcium Carbonate | Safe(10/10) | Natural |
| E101 | Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) | Safe(10/10) | Nature-Identical |
| E163 | Anthocyanins | Safe(9/10) | Natural |
| E160a | Beta-Carotene | Safe(9/10) | Natural |
| E140 | Chlorophylls | Safe(9/10) | Natural |
| E100 | Curcumin | Safe(9/10) | Natural |
| E161b | Lutein | Safe(9/10) | Natural |
| E160d | Lycopene | Safe(9/10) | Natural |
| E160c | Paprika Extract | Safe(9/10) | Natural |
| E175 | Gold | Generally Safe(8/10) | Synthetic |
| E153 | Vegetable Carbon | Generally Safe(8/10) | Natural |
| E160b | Annatto | Generally Safe(7/10) | Natural |
| E120 | Cochineal (Carminic Acid) | Generally Safe(7/10) | Natural |
| E141 | Copper Complexes of Chlorophylls | Generally Safe(7/10) | Nature-Identical |
| E172 | Iron Oxides and Hydroxides | Generally Safe(7/10) | Synthetic |
| E150a | Caramel Color | Caution(6/10) | Natural |
| E132 | Indigo Carmine | Caution(6/10) | Synthetic |
| E174 | Silver | Caution(6/10) | Synthetic |
| E173 | Aluminium | Caution(5/10) | Synthetic |
| E150c | Ammonia Caramel | Caution(5/10) | Synthetic |
| E133 | Brilliant Blue FCF | Caution(5/10) | Synthetic |
| E150b | Caustic Sulphite Caramel | Caution(5/10) | Synthetic |
| E131 | Patent Blue V | Caution(5/10) | Synthetic |
| E129 | Allura Red AC | Questionable(4/10) | Synthetic |
| E104 | Quinoline Yellow | Questionable(4/10) | Synthetic |
| E150d | Sulphite Ammonia Caramel | Questionable(4/10) | Synthetic |
| E102 | Tartrazine | Questionable(4/10) | Synthetic |
| E151 | Brilliant Black BN | Questionable(3/10) | Synthetic |
| E155 | Brown HT | Questionable(3/10) | Synthetic |
| E122 | Carmoisine | Questionable(3/10) | Synthetic |
| E127 | Erythrosine | Questionable(3/10) | Synthetic |
| E142 | Green S | Questionable(3/10) | Synthetic |
| E124 | Ponceau 4R | Questionable(3/10) | Synthetic |
| E110 | Sunset Yellow FCF | Questionable(3/10) | Synthetic |
| E123 | Amaranth | Avoid(2/10) | Synthetic |
| E171 | Titanium Dioxide | Avoid(2/10) | Synthetic |
| E128 | Red 2G | Avoid(1/10) | Synthetic |
38 of 38 additives
Frequently Asked Questions
Food colorings are additives used to change or enhance the color of food and beverages. They can be derived from natural sources like fruits, vegetables, and minerals, or produced synthetically. Colorings are one of the most regulated categories of food additives, as many synthetic dyes have been linked to behavioral effects in children.