Food Colors Additive Guide Use Control Find and type in asthma, congestion, breathing

Colors   (E100-E181)

Number Name Comments E100@ Curcumin orange-yellow color; derived from the root of the curcuma (turmeric) plant, but can be artificially produced; used in cheese, margarine, baked sweets and fish fingers E101@ Riboflavin, Riboflavin-5'-phosphate 'vitamin B2' and color; occurs naturally in green veges, eggs, milk, liver and kidney; used in margarine and cheese E102 Tartrazine FD&C Yellow No.5; known to provoke asthma attacks (though the US FDA** do not recognize this) and urticaria (nettle rash) in children (the US FDA** estimates 1:10 000); also linked to thyroid tumors, chromosomal damage, urticaria (hives) and hyperactivity; tartrazine sensitivity is also linked to aspirin sensitivity; used to color drinks, sweets, jams, cereals, snack foods, canned fish, packaged soups; banned in Norway and Austria E104 Quinoline Yellow FD&C Yellow No.10; used in lipsticks hair products, colognes; also in a wide range of medications; cause dermatitis; banned in Australia, USA and Norway E107 Yellow 7G yellow color; the HACSG* recommends to avoid it; people who suffer Asthma may also show an allergic reaction to it; typical products are soft drinks; banned in Australia and USA E110@ Sunset Yellow FCF, Orange Yellow S FD&C Yellow No.6; used in cereals, bakery, sweets, snack foods, ice cream, drinks and canned fish; synthetic; also in many medications including Berocca, Polaramine, Ventolin syrup; side effects are urticaria (hives), rhinitis (runny nose), nasal congestion, allergies, hyperactivity, kidney tumors, chromosomal damage, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, indigestion, distaste for food; seen increased incidence of tumors in animals; banned in Norway E120@ Cochineal, Carminic acid, Carmines red color; made from insects; rarely used; the HASCG* recommends to avoid it E122 Azorubine, Carmoisine red color; coal tar derivative; can produce bad reactions in asthmatics and people allergic to aspirin; typical products are confectionary, marzipan, jelly crystals; banned in Sweden, USA, Austria and Norway E123 Amaranth FD&C Red No.2; derived from the small herbaceous plant of the same name; used in cake mixes, fruit-flavoured fillings, jelly crystals; can provoke asthma, eczema and hyperactivity; it caused birth defects and foetal deaths in some animal tests, possibly also cancer; banned in the USA, Russia, Austria and Norway and other countries E124 Ponceau 4R, Cochineal Red A FD&C Red No.4; synthetic coal tar and azo dye, carcinogen in animals, can produce bad reactions in asthmatics and people allergic to aspirin; banned in USA & Norway E127 Erythrosine FD&C Red No.3; red color used in cherries, canned fruit, custard mix, sweets, bakery, snack foods; can cause sensitivity to light; can increase thyroid hormone levels and lead to hyperthyroidism, was shown to cause thyroid cancer in rats in a study in 1990; banned in January 1990, but not recalled by the US FDA**; banned in Norway E128 Red 2G banned in Australia and many other places except UK E129 Allura red AC FD&C Red No.40; Orange-red color used in sweets, drinks and condiments, medications and cosmetics, synthetic; introduced in the early eighties to replace amaranth which was considered not safe due to conflicting test results; allura red has also been connected with cancer in mice; banned in Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and Norway E131 Patent blue V banned in Australia, USA and Norway E132@ Indigotine, Indigo carmine FD&C Blue No.2, commonly added to tablets and capsules; also used in ice cream, sweets, baked goods, confectionary, biscuits, synthetic coal tar derivative; may cause nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, skin rashes, breathing problems and other allergic reactions. banned in Norway E133 Brilliant blue FCF FD&C Blue Dye No.1; used in dairy products, sweets and drinks, synthetic usually occurring as aluminum lake (solution) or ammonium salt; banned in Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Norway E140 Chlorophylis, Chlorophyllins green color occurs naturally in all plants; used for dyeing waxes and oils, used in medicines and cosmetics E141 Copper complexes of chloropyll and chlorophyllins olive color, no adverse effects are known E142 Green S green color; synthetic coal tar derivative; used in canned peas, mint jelly and sauce, packet bread crumbs and cake mixes; banned inSweden, USA and Norway E150(a) Plain caramel dark brown color made from sucrose; the HACSG* recommends to avoid it. used in oyster, soy, fruit and canned sauces, beer, whiskey, biscuits, pickles E150(b) Caustic sulphite caramel see E150(a) E150(c) Ammonia caramel see E150(a) E150(d) Sulphite ammonia caramel see E150(a) E151 Brilliant Black BN, Black PN coloor; coal tar derivative; used in brown sauces, blackcurrant cake mixes; banned in Denmark, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, USA, Norway E153@ Vegetable carbon black colour, charcoal pigment; used in jams, jelly crystals, liquorice; only the vegetable derived variety permitted in Australia, banned in the United States E154 Brown FK banned in USA E155 Brown HT (Chocolate) brown color, coal tar and azo dye; used in chocolate cake mixes; can produce bad reactions in asthmatics and people allergic to aspirin; also known to induce skin sensitivity; banned in Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, USA, Norway E160(a)@ Carotene, alpha-, beta-, gamma- orange-yellow colour; human body converts it to 'Vitamin A' in the liver, found in carrots and other yellow or orange fruits and vegetables E160(b)@ Annatto (Arnatto, Annato), bixin, norbixin red color; derived from a tree (Bixa orellana); used as a body paint, fabric dye, digestive aid and expectorant; used to dye cheese, butter, margarine, cereals, snack foods, soaps, textiles and varnishes; known to cause urticaria (nettle rash), the HACSG* recommends to avoid it E160(c)@ Paprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubin avoid it, banned in some countries E160(d)@ Lycopene red coloured carotenoid found in tomatoes and pink grapefruit, can cause decreasing risk of cancer E160(e)@ Beta-apo-8'-carotenal (C 30) orange color, no adverse effects are known E160(f)@ Ethyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid (C 30) orange color, no adverse effects are known E161(b) Xanthophylls - Lutein yellow color derived from plants, naturally found in green leaves, marigolds and egg yolks E161(g)@ Xanthophylls - Canthaxanthin yellow color possibly derived from animal sources (retinol); the pigment is found in some mushrooms, crustacea, fish, flamingo feathers E162 Beetroot Red, Betanin purple color derived from beets; no adverse effects are known E163 Anthocyanins violet color matter of flowers and plants; seems safe E170@ Calcium carbonate mineral salt, used in toothpastes, white paint and cleaning powders; may be derived from rock mineral or animal bones; sometimes used to deacidify wines and firm canned fruit and veg.; toxic at 'high doses' E171 Titanium dioxide white color used in toothpaste and white paint, pollutes waterways; no adverse effects are known E172 Iron oxides and hydroxides black, yellow, red color used in salmon and shrimp pastes; toxic at 'high doses' E173 Aluminium avoid it, banned in some countries E174 Silver avoid it, banned in some countries E175 Gold avoid it, banned in some countries E180 Latolrubine BK avoid it, banned in some countries E181 Tannic acid, tannins clarifying agent in alcohol; derived from the nutgalls and twigs of oak trees; occurs naturally in tea

This a fairly old list. Get more up to date via Google or PubMed. * Hyperactive Children Support Group (HACSG) ** Food and Drug Administration "@" Additives which probably or definitely animal (mostly pig) derivation.