About
Erythrosine is a synthetic xanthene-based dye that imparts a bright cherry-red or pink colour to food; it contains approximately 56.5% iodine by weight. In the EU it is exclusively authorised for use in cocktail, candied, and Bigarreaux cherries, while its food use has been revoked in the United States as of January 2025.
Safety summary
Both JECFA and EFSA have established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0–0.1 mg/kg body weight per day, primarily based on thyroid-function perturbation observed in rodent studies, though EFSA considers rodent thyroid tumours of limited relevance to humans at current exposure levels. The FDA revoked erythrosine's authorization for food and ingested drugs on 15 January 2025 under the Delaney Clause, citing data showing the dye causes cancer in rats. Its high iodine content makes it a particular concern for individuals with thyroid conditions.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Banned | FDA issued an order on 15 January 2025 revoking all authorizations for FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs under the Delaney Clause, citing evidence that the dye causes cancer in rats. Manufacturers have until 15 January 2027 (food) or 18 January 2028 (ingested drugs) to reformulate. Use in cosmetics and topically applied drugs was already revoked in 1990.source |
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Restricted | Permitted only in preserved cherries (maraschino, cocktail, or glacé cherries) at a maximum level of 200 mg/kg under Standard 1.3.1. FSANZ affirmed the JECFA ADI of 0.1 mg/kg bw/day; use in all other foods was restricted before 1997.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Restricted | Exclusively authorised for use in cocktail and candied cherries, and Bigarreaux cherries under Directive 94/36/EC. EFSA 2011 re-evaluation confirmed the ADI of 0.1 mg/kg bw/day and found no basis to revise it; estimated adult intake at the 95th percentile (0.01 mg/kg bw/day) remains well below the ADI.source |
| FSANZ (New Zealand) | Restricted | Shares the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code; restricted to preserved cherries up to 200 mg/kg, mirroring the EU and Codex Alimentarius position.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FSANZ. Application A603 — Erythrosine in Food Colouring Preparations: Final Assessment Report. foodstandards.gov.au
- 2other. Opinion on CI 45430 (Erythrosine) — European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). ec.europa.eu
- 3FDA. FD&C Red No. 3 — FDA Color Additive Information Page, 2025. fda.gov
- 4PubMed. Food Safety and Health Concerns of Synthetic Food Colors: An Update, 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Erythrosine (E 127) as a food additive, 2011. efsa.europa.eu