Skip to content

Common Additives in Candy

Colors, sweeteners, glazing agents in confectionery.

Curcumin
E100

Natural yellow color from turmeric

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
E101

Yellow color, also a vitamin

Tartrazine
E102

Yellow dye. EU requires warning label: may have adverse effect on activity and attention in children

Alkannin
E103

Red dye. Formerly used, now delisted in EU

Quinoline Yellow
E104

EU requires warning label for children

Fast Yellow AB
E105

Yellow azo dye. Delisted, not permitted in EU

Yellow 2G
E107

Yellow azo dye. Withdrawn from EU approved list in 2007

Sunset Yellow FCF
E110

Orange-yellow dye. EU warning label required

Orange GGN
E111

Orange dye. Delisted in EU

Cochineal / Carminic Acid
E120

Red color derived from insects

Citrus Red 2
E121

Red dye. Not permitted in EU. Approved in US only for orange peel coloring

Azorubine / Carmoisine
E122

Red dye. EU warning label required

Amaranth
E123

Red dye. Banned in US (Red No. 2). Limited use in EU

Ponceau 4R
E124

Red dye. EU warning label required. Banned in US

Scarlet GN (Ponceau SX)
E125

Red dye. Formerly used, now delisted

Ponceau 6R
E126

Red dye. Delisted in EU

Erythrosine
E127

Red dye. Limited to cocktail cherries in EU

Red 2G
E128

Red dye. Withdrawn from EU in 2007 over safety concerns

Allura Red AC
E129

Red dye (Red 40 in US). EU warning label required

Indanthrene Blue RS
E130

Blue dye. Delisted in EU

Patent Blue V
E131

Blue dye. Not approved in US

Indigotine / Indigo Carmine
E132

Blue dye

Brilliant Blue FCF
E133

Blue dye (Blue 1 in US)

Chlorophylls
E140

Natural green color from plants

Copper Complexes of Chlorophylls
E141

Stable green color

Green S
E142

Green dye. Not approved in US, Canada, Japan, or Norway

Fast Green FCF
E143

Green dye. Approved in US (FD&C Green No. 3) but not in EU

Fast Green FCF (US numbering)
E143a

Approved in US as FD&C Green No. 3. Not approved in EU

Caramel Color (generic)
E150

Generic entry for caramel colors. See E150a-E150d for specific classes

Plain Caramel
E150a

Brown color from heated sugar

Caustic Sulphite Caramel
E150b

Brown color

Ammonia Caramel
E150c

Brown color used in cola drinks

Sulphite Ammonia Caramel
E150d

Brown color

Brilliant Black BN
E151

Black dye. Not approved in US

Vegetable Carbon
E153

Black color

Brown FK
E154

Brown dye. Only for kippers in UK. Not in US

Brown HT
E155

Brown dye. Not approved in US

Carotenes
E160a

Orange color from carrots

Annatto / Bixin / Norbixin
E160b

Orange-red from annatto seeds

Paprika Extract / Capsanthin
E160c

Red-orange from paprika