E-number database
Plant and carotenoid colours
Curcumin, chlorophylls, beet red, anthocyanins, carotenes, and annatto are Halal plant or nature-identical colours and the usual alternatives to carmine.
- E100 INS 100 Plant and fermentation colours (curcumin, riboflavin, chlorophyll, beet, anthocyanins) Halal These colours are turmeric, vitamin B2, leaf pigments, plant char, paprika, tomato lycopene, beet, and berry anthocyanins. plantHalal
- E160a INS 160a Carotenes, annatto, lutein and canthaxanthin (E160a, E160b, E160e, E161b, E161g) Halal E160a carotenes, E160b annatto, E160e apo-carotenal, E161b lutein and E161g canthaxanthin are plant or nature-identical colours. plantHalal
How they differ
These colours come from plants or are made identical to plant pigments: curcumin from turmeric (E100), riboflavin or vitamin B2 (E101), chlorophylls (E140, E141), vegetable carbon (E153), carotenes (E160a), annatto (E160b), paprika extract (E160c), lycopene (E160d), lutein (E161b), beetroot red (E162) and anthocyanins from berries and grapes (E163). They are Halal.
They are the usual replacements for carmine (E120) in “naturally coloured” sweets and yoghurts. Two small checks: some colours are sold dissolved in a carrier, and E153 is vegetable carbon while E152 was carbon black, which is not permitted in the EU. Neither changes the verdict for the colours listed here.
On the label
- “Colouring foods” such as “concentrate of carrot and blackcurrant” are plant extracts and Halal.
- “Beetroot red” (E162) and “anthocyanins” (E163) are the common reds that replace carmine.
- “Natural colour” with no name can still be carmine; look for the name or number.
Frequently asked questions
Is E160a Halal?
Yes. Beta-carotene is a plant pigment or an identical synthetic one, with no animal source.
Is E163 from grapes a wine problem?
No. Anthocyanins are colour pigments extracted from grape skins, berries or red cabbage; they are not wine.