(derived from curcuma longa, an East Indian herb)

Functions: Colouring (orange / yellow) Antioxidant.
Potential Effects: Curcumin has many beneficial health effects, but it may cause skin irritation and is moderately toxic by injection.
Possible Food Use: Processed Foods
Other Uses: Supplements, marking ink, fabric dye

Our assesment:

may be of animal origin, or genetically modifed)

Functions: colouring (orange/yellow)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use; has many beneficial health effects
Possible Food Use: Processed Foods
Other Uses: Cosmetics, vitamin tablets, emollients

Our assessment:

(coal tar dye, banned in some countries )

Functions: Colouring (lemon / orange / yellow)
Potential Effects: Asthma, urticaria, dermatitis, headache, hay fever, concentration difficulties, depression, skin rash, learning difficulties, behavioural problems, swelling of lips and tongue, hyperactivity, aggressive behaviour, insomnia, confusion, anaphalaxis, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid, carcinogenic
Possible Food Use: Processed Foods
Other Uses: Supplements, marking ink, fabric dye

Our assessment:

(from a herb-like tree root, banned in the USA)

Functions: Colouring (red to copper blue)
Potential Effects: unknown. The FDA withdrew approval for use in foods in the USA in 1988
Possible Food Use: Processed foods, sausage casings
Other Uses: Cosmetics, hair oil, inks

Our assessment:

synthetic, azo dye, may be of animal origin)

Functions: Colouring (yellow / green)
Potential Effects: Asthma, urticaria, skin rash, anaphalaxis, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid, carcinogenic
Possible Food Use: Beverages, processed foods
Other Uses: Cosmetic dye, lipsticks, soap, toothpaste, hair products, medications

Our assessment:

(synthetic, azo dye, banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (yellow)
Potential Effects: Asthma, hay fever, abdominal pain, eczema, hives, hyperactivity, urticaria, skin rash, anaphalaxis, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid, carcinogenic
Possible Food Use: Beverages, processed foods
Other Uses: Cosmetics, hair rinse, oral medications, Ventolin syrup

Our assessment:

(restricted in some countries, animal origin)

Functions: Colouring (red)
Potential Effects: Asthma, urticaria, anaphalaxis, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid, hay fever
Possible Food Use: Processed foods
Other Uses: Cosmetics, red eye shadow, shampoo, mascaras

Our assessment:

(azo dye, banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (red)
Potential Effects: Asthma, hyperactivity, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid, hay fever
Possible Food Use: Processed foods, beverages

Our assessment:

(The synthetic chemical not the grain; coal tar dye and azo dye; banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (bluish red)
Potential Effects: Hyperactivity, urticaria, asthma, rhinitis, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid, may affect reproduction, liver, kidneys, birth defects, carcinogenic, teratogen
Possible Food Use: Ice cream, edible ices, chutney, jams, spreads, fruit juice, jelly, confectionery, flavoured drinks, wine based drinks
Other Uses: Lipstick, rouge, other cosmetics

Our assessment:

(Cochineal red A; monoazo dye; banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (red)
Potential Effects : Hyperactivity, hay fever, asthma, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid, carcinogenic
Possible Food Use: Beverages, processed foods
Other Uses: Mouthwash, hair rinse

Our assessment:

(FD & C red No.3; coal tar dye, banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (bluish pink)
Potential Effects: Hyperactivity, hay fever, asthma, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid, carcinogenic, learning difficulties, light sensitivity, may affect liver, heart, thyroid, reproduction, stomach
Possible Food Use: Maraschino cherries, cocktail cherries, glace cherries
Other Uses: Toothpaste, dental disclosing tablets, rouge, medications

Our assessment:

(FD & C red No.40; coal tar dye, banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (red / orange)
Potential Effects: Hyperactivity, hay fever, asthma, allergic reactions, urticaria, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid, carcinogenic, adverse reproductive effects in animals
Possible Food Use: Beverages, processed foods
Other Uses: Cosmetics, lipstick, medications

Our assessment:

(indigo carmine; FD & C Blue No. 2; coal tar dye, banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (moderate / bright green)
Potential Effects: Hyperactivity, asthma, allergic reactions, heart problems; NRC; carcinogenic
Possible Food Use: Beverages, processed foods
Other Uses: Hair rinses, dye in kidney function tests, tablets and capsules

Our assessment:

(FD & C blue No. 1; coal tar dye, banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (bright blue)
Potential Effects: Hay fever, asthma, allergic reactions, urticaria, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid, carcinogenic
Possible Food Use: processed foods
Other Uses: Toothpaste, cosmetics, hair dye, deodorant

Our assessment:

(green colouring in plants extraced using MEK, acetone, ethanol and dichloromethane)

Functions: Colouring (olive / dark green)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use, has beneficial health effects, can cause a sensitivity to light
Possible Food Use: Processed foods
Other Uses: Antiperspirant, deodorant, mouthwash, supplements, medicines

Our assessment:

(may be synthetic)

Functions: Colouring (bright green)
Potential Effects: regarded as safe in food use
Possible Food Use: Processed foods

Our assessment:

(coal tar dye, banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (green)
Potential Effects: Hyperactivity, asthma, skin rashes, insomnia
Possible Food Use: Beverages, processed foods
Other Uses: Textile industry

Our assessment:

(synthetic; Fd & C Green No. 3)

Functions: Colouring (sea green)
Potential Effects: sensitisation in allergenic people, caused malignant tumours in rats when injected under the skin; bladder tumours
Possible Food Use: Beverages, processed foods
Other Uses: Cosmetics, except those used near the eyes

Our assessment:

(plain caramel; may be from sugar beet; sugar cane or corn starch; may be GM)

Functions: Colouring (dark brown)
Potential Effects: Gastrointestinal problems; needs to be tested for mutagenic, teratogenic,subacute and reproductive effects
Possible Food Use: Wine, sparkling wine, fortified wine, stout, fruit wines, beer, mead, vegetable wines
Other Uses: Cosmetics, skin lotions

Our assessment:

(caustic sulphite caramel; may be from sugar beet; sugar cane or corn starch; made using ammonia; may be GM)

Functions: Colouring (dark brown to black)
Potential Effects: Hyperactivity, may affect liver, stomach problems
Possible Food Use: Wine, sparkling wine, fortified wine, stout, fruit wines, beer, mead, vegetable wines

Our assessment:

(ammonia caramel; may be from sugar beet; sugar cane or corn starch; made using ammonia; may be GM)

Functions: Colouring (dark brown to black)
Potential Effects: Hyperactivity, may affect liver, stomach, reproduction, caused convulsions in some animal tests, blood toxicity in rats, lowered white blood cell count in rats
Possible Food Use: Wine, sparkling wine, fortified wine, stout, fruit wines, beer, mead, vegetable wines

Our assessment:

(sulphite ammonia caramel; may be from sugar beet; sugar cane or corn starch; sulphite and ammonia compounds; may be GM)

Functions: Colouring (dark brown to black)
Potential Effects: Hyperactivity, soft to liquid stools, increased bowel movements, blood toxicity in rats, inhibits metabolism of B6 in rabbits
Possible Food Use: Wine, sparkling wine, fortified wine, stout, fruit wines, beer, mead, vegetable wines
Other Uses: Cosmetics, skin lotion, cigarettes

Our assessment:

(azo dye; banned in many countries)

Functions: Colouring (black)
Potential Effects: Hyperactivity, asthma, may affect kidneys, stomach, NRC, carcinogenic
Possible Food Use: Beverages
Other Uses: Cosmetics

Our assessment:

(usually from burnt vegetable matter; may be of animal origin; may be GM; banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (black)
Potential Effects: mildly toxic by ingestion, skin contact and inhalation, may be carcinogenic
Possible Food Use: Processed foods
Other Uses: Cosmetics

Our assessment:

(coal tar dye & azo dye; banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (brown)
Potential Effects: Asthma, allergic reactions, urticaria, NRC, may affect kidneys, aspirin sensitive people may wish to avoid
Possible Food Use: Processed foods, beverages

Our assessment:

(mostly natural and of plant origin; may be of animal origin)

Functions: Colouring (orange to red)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use, has many beneficial health effects
Possible Food Use: Butter
Other Uses: Skin creams, animal feed, supplements, cigarettes

Our assessment:

(obtained from annatto trees; bixin and norbixin are extracts)

Functions: Colouring (yellow to pink)
Potential Effects: May cause irritability and head banging in children, urticaria and pruritis from skin contact, hypotension, undergoing tests by industry due to a lack of data
Possible Food Use: Flavoured milk, ice cream, pasta, milk products, noodles, confectionery, cakes, pastries
Other Uses: Fabric dyes, soaps, varnish, body paints

Our assessment:

(extracted from peppers)

Functions: Colouring (orange to red)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use, has many beneficial health effects
Possible Food Use: Processed foods
Other Uses: Poultry feed

Our assessment:

(extracted from tomatoes and pink grapefruit; may be synthetic; may be GM)

Functions: Colouring (red)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use, has many beneficial health effects
Possible Food Use: Processed foods
Other Uses: Supplements

Our assessment:

(extracted from tomatoes and pink grapefruit; may be synthetic; may be GM)

Functions: Colouring (orange / yellow / red)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use, has many beneficial health effects
Possible Food Use: Processed foods, butter

Our assessment:

(Natural substance from plants)

Functions: Colouring (yellow to orange)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use
Possible Food Use: Processed foods

Our assessment:

(Xanthophyll)

Functions: Colouring (yellow)
Potential Effects: Xanthophylls compete with carotene for absorption into the body
Possible Food Use: Processed foods

Our assessment:

(Found in egg yolk, fat cells, green leaves, may be of animal origin)

Functions: Colouring (yellow to red)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use at low levels
Possible Food Use: Processed foods
Other Uses: Animal and poultry feeds

Our assessment:

(Found in Cape gooseberry, egg yolk, butter, may be of animal origin)

Functions: Colouring (yellow)
Potential Effects: Xanthophylls compete with carotene for absorption into the body
Possible Food Use: Processed foods

Our assessment:

(Xanthophyll found in rosehips)

Functions: Colouring (yellow)
Potential Effects: Xanthophylls compete with carotene for absorption into the body
Possible Food Use: Processed foods

Our assessment:

(Xanthophyll found in yellow pansies)

Functions: Colouring (yellow)
Potential Effects: Xanthophylls compete with carotene for absorption into the body
Possible Food Use: Processed foods

Our assessment:

(xanthophyll found in the seeds of the yew tree)

Functions: Colouring (yellow)
Potential Effects: Xanthophylls compete with carotene for absorption into the body
Possible Food Use: Processed foods

Our assessment:

(extracted from beetroot)

Functions: Colouring (deep red / purple)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use, contains nitrates
Possible Food Use: Desserts, jellies, liquorice, sweets
Other Uses: Cosmetics

Our assessment:

Functions: Colouring (red / purple)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use, many beneficial effects
Possible Food Use: Wines
Other Uses: Cosmetics, vitamin tablets, supplements

Our assessment:

(from the crocus plant)

Functions: Colouring (orange / brown)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use, beneficial health effects, anaphylaxis
Possible Food Use: Jams, pickles, jellies, sweets, icing sugar, tomato sauce
Other Uses: Cosmetics, perfumery, marking ink

Our assessment:

(chalk, limestone, bones, marble, dolomite, coral; may be of animal origin)

Functions: Colouring (white), abrasive
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use in low levels, can cause abdominal pain, nausea, constipation
Possible Food Use: Food for infants, wines
Other Uses: Cosmetics, face powder, bleach, vitamin tablets, cigarettes

Our assessment:

(occurs naturally, may contain nano particles)

Functions: Colouring (white), opacifier
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use, skin contact can cause irritation, reproductive toxicity, limited evidence of cancer in animal studies
Possible Food Use: Confectionery, sweets, chewing gum, icing sugar, jam, jellies
Other Uses: Sun-screen, marker ink, paints, bath powder, face powder

Our assessment:

(rust, synthetic oxides of iron, banned in some countries)

Functions: Colouring (red / brown / black / orange / yellow)
Potential Effects: Iron is potentially toxic in all forms; excess intake can lead to an increased risk of numerous health conditions
Possible Food Use: Processed foods
Other Uses: Pet foods, dying egg shells, face powders, eye shadows

Our assessment:

(extracted from the mineral ore bauxite; European Parliament said aluminium additives should be banned)

Functions: Colouring (metallic)
Potential Effects: Inhalation can aggravate lungs disorders, cardiovascular, reproductive, neurotoxicity, evidence of link with Alzheimers
Possible Food Use: Cake decoration, liqueurs
Other Uses: Cooking utensils, anti-perspirant, silver finish to pills and tablets

Our assessment:

(naturally occuring metal)

Functions: Colouring (metallic)
Potential Effects: Toxic in large doses, accumulates in tissues, kidney damage, argyria
Possible Food Use: Cake decoration, liqueurs
Other Uses: Cosmetics, nail polish

Our assessment:

(naturally occuring metal)

Functions: Colouring (metallic)
Potential Effects: Regarded as safe in food use, possible neurotoxicity, rare allergic reactions
Possible Food Use: Cake decoration, liqueurs
Other Uses: Cosmetics

Our assessment:

(mainly petroleum derived)

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Allergic reactions; asthma; behavioural problems; skin irritation
Possible Food Use: Bread, jam, icing
Other Uses: Cosmetics, toothpaste

Our assessment:

(mainly petroleum derived)

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Asthma; hay fever; headache; skin irritation; stomach upset; hyperactivity
Possible Food Use: Bread, jam, noodles
Other Uses: Cosmetics, toothpaste

Our assessment:

(mainly petroleum derived)

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Asthma; hay fever; headache; skin irritation; stomach upset; hyperactivity
Possible Food Use: Bread, jam, noodles
Other Uses: Cosmetics, sunscreen

Our assessment:

(mainly petroleum derived)

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Asthma; hay fever; headache; skin irritation; stomach upset; hyperactivity
Possible Food Use: Cheese, ice confections
Other Uses: Cosmetics, toothpaste

Our assessment:

(petroleum derived)

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Skin irritation; headache; stomach upset; asthma; hyperactivity; avoid if aspirin sensitive
Possible Food Use: Pickles, soft drink, jam
Other Uses: Cosmetics, medicine

Our assessment:

(petroleum derived)

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Skin irritation; headache; stomach upset; asthma; hyperactivity; avoid if aspirin sensitive
Possible Food Use: Pickles, soft drink, jam
Other Uses: Cosmetics, medicine

Our assessment:

(petroleum derived)

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Skin irritation; headache; stomach upset; asthma; hyperactivity; avoid if aspirin sensitive
Possible Food Use: Pickles, soft drink, jam
Other Uses: Cosmetics, medicine

Our assessment:

(petroleum derived)

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Skin irritation; headache; stomach upset; asthma; hyperactivity; avoid if aspirin sensitive
Possible Food Use: Pickles, soft drink, jam
Other Uses: Cosmetics, medicine

Our assessment:

(petroleum derived)

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Skin redness; hives; contact dermatitis; skin swelling and itching; asthma
Possible Food Use: Processed foods
Other Uses: Baby lotion, pet food, cosmetics, vaccines

Our assessment:

(petroleum derived)

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Skin redness; hives; contact dermatitis; skin swelling and itching; asthma
Possible Food Use: Processed foods
Other Uses: Baby lotion, pet food, cosmetics, vaccines

Our assessment:

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Skin redness; hives; contact dermatitis; skin swelling and itching; asthma
Possible Food Use: Wine, dried fruit
Other Uses: Fungicide, bleaching agent for paper and textiles

Our assessment:

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Asthma; destroys vitamin B1; HACSG recommends to avoid
Possible Food Use: Jelly, jams, dried fruit
Other Uses: Pulp and paper industry

Our assessment:

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Bronchial asthma; chronic hives; skin irritation; mutagen
Possible Food Use: Wines, jams, dried fruit
Other Uses: Cosmetics, sunscreen

Our assessment:

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Hay fever; HACSG recommends to avoid; asthma; harmful to aquatic organisms
Possible Food Use: Bread, cheese
Other Uses: Cosmetics, sunscreen, hairspray

Our assessment:

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Asthma; stomach upset; behavioural problems; hives; anaphylaxis
Possible Food Use: Bread, cheese
Other Uses: Cosmetics

Our assessment:

Functions: Preservative
Potential Effects: Asthma; destroys vitamin B1; HACSG recommends to avoid
Possible Food Use: Bread, cheese
Other Uses: Cosmetics

Our assessment: