Food Colours in Food
Colours give foods a consistent or appealing look. Every colour used in UK food must be an authorised additive, and foods containing any of six colours (E102, E104, E110, E122, E124, E129) must carry a warning that they may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.
Colour - color
Colours are substances that impart, restore or enhance the colour of a food. They can be natural, nature-identical (synthetically produced …
What is Colour - color? →
Paprika extract
Paprika extract is a vibrant red or orange colouring derived from the dried fruits of the Capsicum annuum plant, commonly …
What is Paprika extract? →
Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice derived from the root of the Curcuma longa plant, native to Southeast Asia. The fresh root …
What is Turmeric? →
Curcumin
Curcumin is a vibrant yellow pigment extracted from the rhizomes (underground stems) of turmeric plants (Curcuma longa). It is the …
What is Curcumin? →
Plain caramel
Plain caramel is a food colouring made by heating sugars, typically glucose or sucrose, with or without acids, alkalis, or …
What is Plain caramel? →
Carotene
Carotenes are a group of naturally occurring pigments found in plants, algae, and some bacteria. They are responsible for the …
What is Carotene? →
Anthocyanins
Anthocyanins are a group of naturally occurring pigments found in many fruits and vegetables, giving them red, purple, and blue …
What is Anthocyanins? →
Annatto
Annatto is a natural food colouring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana), native to tropical regions …
What is Annatto? →
Caramelised sugar syrup
Caramelised sugar syrup is made by heating sugar, typically sucrose, until it melts and turns brown. This process, known as …
What is Caramelised sugar syrup? →
Beetroot red
Beetroot red, also known as betanin, is a natural pigment extracted from beetroot (Beta vulgaris). The vibrant red-purple colour is …
What is Beetroot red? →
Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene is a pigment found naturally in many fruits and vegetables, giving them their orange, yellow, or red colour. It …
What is Beta-carotene? →
Caramelised sugar
Caramelised sugar is produced by heating sugar until it turns brown and develops a distinct flavour. This process, known as …
What is Caramelised sugar? →
Ammonia caramel
Ammonia caramel, also known as E150c, is a type of caramel colour. It is produced by the controlled heating of …
What is Ammonia caramel? →
Sulphite ammonia caramel
Sulphite ammonia caramel, also known as E150d, is a dark brown food colouring. It is produced by heating carbohydrates (such …
What is Sulphite ammonia caramel? →
Annatto norbixin
Annatto norbixin is a natural food colouring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana). The seeds are …
What is Annatto norbixin? →
Natural colours
Natural colours are derived from plant, animal, or mineral sources. They are extracted using various physical, enzymatic, or microbiological processes. …
What is Natural colours? →
Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green algae, a type of cyanobacteria, that grows in both fresh and saltwater. It is typically cultivated …
What is Spirulina? →
Lutein
Lutein is a naturally occurring yellow pigment, a type of carotenoid. It is found in green leafy vegetables like spinach …
What is Lutein? →
Black carrot
Black carrot is a variety of carrot that is deep purple or black in colour. It is grown worldwide and …
What is Black carrot? →
Cochineal
Cochineal, also known as carmine or Natural Red 4, is a vibrant red food colouring. It is derived from the …
What is Cochineal? →
Brilliant blue FCF
Brilliant blue FCF is a synthetic blue food dye. It is produced through a chemical synthesis process. It is approved …
What is Brilliant blue FCF? →
Spirulina concentrate
Spirulina concentrate is a vibrant blue or green pigment derived from a type of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). This algae is …
What is Spirulina concentrate? →
Fruit And Vegetable Concentrates
Fruit and vegetable concentrates are made by extracting the colour from fruits and vegetables. This is typically done by pressing …
What is Fruit And Vegetable Concentrates? →
Safflower concentrate
Safflower concentrate is a food ingredient derived from the petals of the safflower plant (*Carthamus tinctorius*). The petals are processed …
What is Safflower concentrate? →
Titanium dioxide
Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring oxide of titanium, a metal. It is processed to create a fine white powder. …
What is Titanium dioxide? →
Allura red
Allura red is a synthetic red azo dye. It is manufactured from petroleum-based chemicals through a multi-step process involving diazotisation …
What is Allura red? →
Carrot extract
Carrot extract is a natural colouring derived from carrots. The extraction process typically involves washing, chopping, and then pressing carrots …
What is Carrot extract? →
Capsicum extract
Capsicum extract is a natural colourant derived from the fruit of the capsicum plant, commonly known as chilli peppers. The …
What is Capsicum extract? →
Tartrazine
Tartrazine (E102) is a synthetic yellow azo dye. It is produced from coal tar derivatives and is one of the …
What is Tartrazine? →
Copper complexes of chlorophyllins
Copper complexes of chlorophyllins are water-soluble, dark green colourants. They are derived from chlorophyll, the natural pigment found in plants, …
What is Copper complexes of chlorophyllins? →
Vegetable carbon
Vegetable carbon, also known as activated charcoal, is a fine black powder produced by the controlled burning of organic materials …
What is Vegetable carbon? →
Fruit and plant concentrates
Fruit and plant concentrates are derived from fruits and vegetables. They are produced by extracting pigments and other compounds from …
What is Fruit and plant concentrates? →
Sunset yellow FCF
Sunset yellow FCF is a synthetic yellow azo dye. It is manufactured from petroleum-derived chemicals through a multi-step process involving …
What is Sunset yellow FCF? →
Plant concentrate
Plant concentrates are derived from various plant sources, such as fruits, vegetables, and flowers. They are produced through processes like …
What is Plant concentrate? →
Concentrated black carrot
Concentrated black carrot is a natural food colouring derived from the Daucus carota plant. The deep purple pigment, anthocyanin, is …
What is Concentrated black carrot? →
Annatto bixin
Annatto bixin is a natural food colouring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana). The seeds are …
What is Annatto bixin? →
Red iron oxide
Red iron oxide, also known as ferric oxide, is a synthetic or naturally occurring mineral compound. It is produced by …
What is Red iron oxide? →
Beetroot juice concentrate
Beetroot juice concentrate is a vibrant red liquid produced by extracting the juice from beetroot (Beta vulgaris) and then concentrating …
What is Beetroot juice concentrate? →
Carotenoids
Carotenoids are a group of naturally occurring pigments found in plants, algae, and some bacteria and fungi. They are responsible …
What is Carotenoids? →
Lycopene
Lycopene is a naturally occurring pigment that gives many fruits and vegetables their red, pink, or orange colour, such as …
What is Lycopene? →
Elderberry extract
Elderberry extract is derived from the dark purple berries of the elderflower tree (Sambucus nigra). The berries are typically pressed …
What is Elderberry extract? →
Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins
These are green food colourings derived from chlorophyll, the natural pigment found in plants. They are produced by adding copper …
What is Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins? →
Chlorophylls
Chlorophylls are the green pigments found naturally in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. They are essential for photosynthesis, the process by …
What is Chlorophylls? →
Black carrot juice
Black carrot juice is a natural food colouring derived from the Daucus carota subspecies sativus plant. The deep purple hue …
What is Black carrot juice? →
Colour
Colours are substances that impart, restore or enhance the colour of a food. They can be natural extracts from plants, …
What is Colour? →
Indigotine
Indigotine (E132) is a synthetic blue colourant. It is chemically similar to indigo, a natural dye derived from plants, but …
What is Indigotine? →
Ponceau 4r
Ponceau 4R is a synthetic red azo dye. It is manufactured from coal tar derivatives. It is approved for use …
What is Ponceau 4r? →
Black carrot extract
Black carrot extract is a natural colouring derived from the dark purple varieties of the Daucus carota plant. The vibrant …
What is Black carrot extract? →
Burnt Sugar
Burnt sugar, also known as caramel colour, is produced by heating sugar (typically sucrose or glucose syrup) under controlled conditions. …
What is Burnt Sugar? →
Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins
Chlorophylls and chlorophyllins are natural green pigments found in plants, responsible for photosynthesis. They are extracted from plant sources like …
What is Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins? →
Other ingredient types
Note:
This site presents label data from Open Food Facts for general information. It is not medical advice.
Check the package label; formulations change.