About
What it is and where it shows up.
E140 is a group of natural green colourants extracted from edible plant materials such as grass, alfalfa, nettles, and spinach. It is used in the food industry to impart or restore green colour in products such as pasta, confectionery, and desserts.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Chlorophylls (E140(i)) are poorly absorbed by humans and EFSA concluded they are not of safety concern at reported use levels, though no formal ADI could be established due to limited toxicological data. Chlorophyllins (E140(ii)) could not be safety-assessed by EFSA due to a complete absence of ADME and toxicity data. No IARC classification or significant adverse effects for the general adult population have been identified at typical food additive intake levels.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Restricted | Chlorophyll is not approved as a colour additive for general food use in the US under 21 CFR Part 73/74/82. Copper chlorophyllin (sodium/potassium salt) is permitted for specific uses. Plain chlorophyll is considered acceptable in some dietary supplement contexts. Not listed as GRAS for colour use.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 for use in pasta, confectionery, desserts, and other food categories. EFSA 2015 re-evaluation found E140(i) not of safety concern at reported use levels but could not establish an ADI. E140(ii) safety could not be assessed; a follow-up call for data was launched by the European Commission in October 2017 and the assessment is ongoing as of 2024.source |
| Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom) | Approved | Approved as E140 (Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins) on the UK approved additives list, retained from assimilated EU Regulation 1333/2008 post-Brexit.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | INS 140 (Chlorophylls) is listed as a permitted natural colour under FSSAI Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations. Specific food category conditions apply. |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Other — E140(ii) (chlorophyllins) safety has not been formally established by EFSA due to a complete absence of ADME and toxicity data; individuals who wish to apply a precautionary approach may choose to limit consumption of products specifically containing E140(ii) until the ongoing EFSA reassessment is complete.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1other. FAO GSFA Online Food Additive Details for Chlorophylls (INS 140). fao.org
- 2PubMed. Green Natural Colorants, 2019. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3other. Call for scientific and technical data on permitted food additives E 140(i), E 140(ii), E 141(i) and E 141(ii), 2017. food.ec.europa.eu
- 4EFSA. Re-evaluation of chlorophylls (E 140(i)) as food additives, 2015. efsa.europa.eu
- 5EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of chlorophyllins (E 140(ii)) as food additives, 2015. efsa.europa.eu
Independently researched5 citations