Colors from Around the World

Sensient Colours frequently participates at different industry events and we speak around food regulations in different parts of the world. Invariably there are often questions arising with someone wanting to know more about a particular food color mentioned. They want to know the shade and pH range along with whether the color is permitted in the United States, the European Union, or other regions across the globe. After numerous inquiries, we have developed the following ‘Colors from Around the World’ guide, which is sorted by color shade. 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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