E100: E199 Colours

What are E100 to E199 colours?

E numbers in the 100 to 199 range are food colours. These additives are used to enhance the natural colour of foods and drinks or to add colour to otherwise colourless products.

The numbering system makes identification straightforward. E numbers from 100 to 199 are designated for colours, while other ranges cover different categories such as preservatives or flavour enhancers.

You will sometimes see letters added after the number. E150, for instance, has variants labelled E150a, E150b, E150c and E150d. These sub-categories usually indicate related forms of the same colour, often made through slightly different processes or suited to different applications.

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Natural and artificial sources

Food colours come from two broad sources. Some are derived from natural materials. E100, known as curcumin, comes from turmeric root. E162, or beetroot red, is extracted from beetroot.

Others are manufactured synthetically. These artificial colours may be created through chemical processes or derived from petroleum. Examples include E102 (tartrazine), E110 (sunset yellow) and E129 (allura red).

Some colours can come from either source. E160a (beta-carotene) occurs naturally in carrots and other vegetables but can also be produced synthetically. The label may not always specify which version a product contains.

A colour being natural or artificial does not tell you everything about how it might affect you. The Food Standards Agency assesses all permitted additives for safety before they can be used in products sold in the UK. UK standards continue to be influenced by European Food Safety Authority assessments, with much EU legislation retained following Brexit. Both natural and synthetic colours must meet the same regulatory standards.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Where food colours appear

Colours appear in a wide variety of products, some more obvious than others. You would expect to find them in sweets, fizzy drinks and brightly coloured desserts. But they also turn up in foods where you might not immediately think to look, from smoked fish to sauces.

Products that may contain E100 to E199 colours include:

• Soft drinks and fruit squash
• Sweets and confectionery
• Cakes, biscuits and baked goods
• Jams and jellies
• Desserts and ice cream
• Smoked fish such as haddock
• Scotch eggs and processed meat products
• Sauces and condiments

Manufacturers use colours for various reasons. In some cases, processing removes a food's natural colour, and additives restore the expected appearance. In others, colours make products look more consistent or appealing on the shelf.

Checking labels

UK food labelling rules require manufacturers to list colours in the ingredients. You will usually see them written either as the E number, the specific name, or both. This means you can check what colours a product contains before buying.

Certain artificial colours carry additional labelling requirements. Products containing E102, E104, E110, E122, E124 or E129 must display a warning stating that these colours may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. This requirement originated in EU regulations and was retained in UK law following Brexit.

If you want to avoid particular colours, reading ingredient lists is the most reliable approach. Products marketed as free from artificial colours may still contain natural colour additives from the E100 to E199 range.

The Food Standards Agency provides guidance on food additives and maintains information on which are permitted for use in the UK. GOV.UK also publishes information on food labelling requirements that apply to manufacturers and retailers.

Knowing that the 100 to 199 range covers colours makes spotting them on labels simpler. If you are trying to cut back on certain additives or want to understand what gives a product its colour, this is where to look.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our E Number Checker lets you enter an E number or ingredient and find out if it is halal, vegan, or contains animal products. Takes seconds. Try it now →