Beetroot Red | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Beetroot red (E162) is a natural food colour extracted from red beetroot (Beta vulgaris), composed of betalain pigments—principally betacyanins such as betanin—that impart a vivid red-violet hue. It is widely used in candies, ice cream, dairy products, beverages, and meat substitutes as a natural alternative to synthetic red dyes such as Allura Red AC (E129).

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

EFSA's 2015 re-evaluation found the available toxicological database inadequate to establish a formal ADI for beetroot red as a food additive, but noted that betanin exposure from additive use is comparable to natural dietary exposure from eating beetroot, supporting continued approval at quantum satis. No formal ADI has been established; the ingredient is considered bioactive and safe at typical food-use levels with no evidence of carcinogenicity. Rare sensitive individuals may experience benign beeturia (red/pink discolouration of urine or stool) or, uncommonly, mild hypersensitivity reactions.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia)	Approved	Listed as an approved food colour (INS 162) under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. Permitted at quantum satis in various food categories consistent with Codex Alimentarius provisions.source
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Permitted at quantum satis in multiple food categories under EC Regulation No. 1333/2008, Annex II (Group II food colours). EFSA re-evaluated in December 2015 (Opinion 4318); no numerical ADI established. ADI deemed unnecessary given that additive-level betanin exposure is within the range of normal dietary intake from beetroot.source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom)	Approved	Authorised in England, Scotland, and Wales under assimilated Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 and assimilated Regulation (EU) No. 231/2012 (specifications). Listed under Group II food colours permitted at quantum satis. Status last updated 01 April 2025.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Permitted as a natural colour (INS 162) under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Natural colours must be used within permitted limits and in permitted food categories per FSSAI 2009/2011 regulations.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Kidney Disease — Beetroot naturally contains oxalates; individuals with a history of calcium-oxalate kidney stones may wish to exercise caution with frequent or high intake of beetroot-derived products, including foods containing E162, though typical additive doses are very small.

Other — Rare hypersensitive individuals may experience allergic-type reactions (urticaria, angioedema) to plant pigment preparations; the label 'natural' does not guarantee absence of allergic risk, and such individuals should consult a doctor before consuming products containing E162.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1PubMed. Status of food colorants in India: conflicts and prospects. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2FDA. Color Additives in Foods – Certification-Exempt Natural Color Additives (21 CFR Part 73). fda.gov
3other. JECFA Monograph: Beet Red – INS No. 162. fao.org
4PubMed. Betanin—a food colorant with biological activity. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5EFSA. Beetroot red (E 162): extension of use in food for special medical purposes (FSMP) for young children, 2016. efsa.europa.eu
6EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of beetroot red (E 162) as a food additive, 2015. efsa.europa.eu

Independently researched6 citations