Colors from Around the World

Delight in the colors from around the world.

This list is a living guide, as the sources for natural color are continuously expanding; however, these hues provide a snapshot of the major food colorants used today.

 

Colorant INS# pH Target Shade
FD&C Red #40 (Allura Red) 129 2-8
Amaranth* 123 2-8
Black Carrot 163 3
Carmine 120 3
Carmoisine* 122 2-8
Cochineal Extract / Carminic Acid 120 7
Beet 162 4-7
Elderberry Juice 163 5
FD&C Red #3 (Erythrosine) 127 3-8
Grape Juice 163 3
Grape Skin Extract 163ii 3
Hibiscus 163 2-4
Lycopene (from tomato) 160dii 3-7
Lycopene (synthetic)* 160di 3-7
Monascus Color* –– 5-8
Ponceau 4R 124 2-8
Purple Sweet Potato 163 3
Red Cabbage 163 3
Red Iron Oxide* 172II 2-8
Red Radish 163 3
Red Rice* –– 2-4

Colorant INS# pH Target Shade
Annatto – Bixin 160bi 2-6
Annatto – Norbixin 160bii 3.5-8
Beta-Apo-8′-Carotenal 160e 2-8
Beta-Carotene 160ai-iv 2.5-8
Canthaxanthin 161g 2-8
Cochineal Extract 120 3
Lutein* 161b 3-8
Paprika Oleoresin 160c 2-8
Saffron –– 2-8
FD&C Yellow #6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) 110 2-8
Beta-Carotene 160ai-iv 2.5-8
Carrot Oil* 160a 2-8
Carthamus* –– 2-8
Gardenia Yellow* –– 3-8
Quinoline Yellow* 104 2-8
Riboflavin 101i 2-8
FD&C Yellow #5 (Tartrazine) 102 2-8
Turmeric/Curcumin 100 2.5-6.5
Yellow Iron Oxide* 172iii 2-8

Colorant INS# pH Target Shade
Chlorophyll* 140i 2-8
Copper Chlorophyll* 141i 2-8
Green Tea* –– 3-8
FD&C Blue #1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) 133 2-8
Gardenia Blue* –– 4-8
Huito* –– 4-6
FD&C Blue #2 (Indigotine) 132 2-8
Red Cabbage 163 7.5
Spirulina –– 5-8
Natural Blue Vegetable Juice Color –– 4-8
Black Carrot 163 7
Blue Carmine 120 7
Purple Sweet Potato 163 4
Black Iron Oxide* 172i 2-8
Brilliant Black* 151 2-8
Vegetable Carbon* 153 2-8
Avalanche™ Opacity Agent –– 2-8
Calcium Carbonate* 170 2-8
Titanium Dioxide 171 2-8

Colorant INS# pH Target Shade
Apple Extract –– 3-8
Caramel Color I 150a 2-8
Caramel Color II 150b 2-8
Caramel Color III 150c 2-8
Caramel Color IV 150d 2-8
Aluminum* 173 2-10
Gold* 175 2-10
Mica-Based Pearlescent Pigments 171 & 555 2-8
Silver* 174 2-10

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