E food additives

E123 – Amaranth

Red grain dots symbol for unsafe food additive (E number classification – RED level).

Category:

Published:

Last modification:

Safety grading RED – UNSAFE

Amaranth (E123) is a synthetic azo dye once widely used to provide a red to purple color in food and beverages. It has since been banned in the United States and several other countries due to concerns about its safety. Research in the 1970s linked amaranth to cancer development in laboratory animals, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prohibit its use in 1976. The European Union permits its use only in very limited applications, and many nations have removed it from the market.

Amaranth is classified here as RED – UNSAFE because of its strong association with carcinogenicity and other toxicological concerns. While it may still appear in some imported or mislabeled foods, it is considered an obsolete and dangerous additive.

Should You Avoid Amaranth?

Yes. Consumers are strongly advised to avoid amaranth in any form. Its ban in many jurisdictions highlights the consensus that it presents unacceptable health risks. Safer natural and synthetic alternatives exist for food coloring, making amaranth unnecessary.

Common Uses (historical)

  • Soft drinks and powdered drink mixes
  • Candies and confectionery items
  • Baked goods and icings
  • Jams, jellies, and preserves
  • Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals

Today, in regions where it is banned, amaranth should no longer be present in legitimate food production. However, caution is needed with imported goods.

Common names / Synonyms

  • FD&C Red No. 2
  • CI Food Red 9
  • INS 123

What is it?

Amaranth is a synthetic azo dye, meaning its molecular structure contains azo groups (–N=N–) that provide vibrant coloration. It is manufactured chemically, not derived from the amaranth plant despite its name. The color it produces ranges from deep red to purple, depending on concentration and pH.

Amaranth was popular because it was inexpensive, stable to light and heat, and produced attractive colors in a wide range of foods. However, studies in the 20th century revealed potential toxic effects, especially links to tumor formation in animal tests. Regulatory authorities in the United States, Russia, and other countries banned it following these findings.

Although the European Union permits limited use of amaranth in caviar and certain spirits, its safety remains controversial, and many food companies avoid it altogether. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified amaranth as not classifiable regarding human carcinogenicity due to insufficient evidence, but concerns remain based on animal data.

Where it’s allowed (EU vs US)

In the United States, amaranth is banned in all foods and beverages.

In the European Union, it is still permitted under strict conditions and in very few products, such as caviar. Many other countries, including Russia and Japan, also prohibit its use.

Further reading

More posts