Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Sodium copper chlorophyllin is a water-soluble, semi-synthetic green colorant derived from chlorophyll by alkaline hydrolysis (replacing the phytyl and methyl ester groups with sodium/potassium) and substitution of the central magnesium atom with copper. It is used to impart a bright, stable green colour to foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

EFSA's 2015 re-evaluation found the available toxicological database inadequate to fully confirm safety, noting that some Cu-chlorophyllin components can be absorbed systemically, and that data on genotoxicity and carcinogenicity were insufficient or discrepant. JECFA established a provisional ADI of 0–15 mg/kg body weight per day (as the colour class), but the EU re-evaluation placed the additive under active data-call scrutiny. The additive is currently permitted in the EU under E141(ii) but remains under review pending new carcinogenicity and genotoxicity data.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Restricted	FSSAI Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011 permit only plain chlorophyll (with both chlorophyll a and b) as a colouring food matter; sodium copper chlorophyllin is not explicitly listed as a permitted food colour.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Restricted	Approved as a color additive exempt from batch certification under 21 CFR 73.125 (food use) and 21 CFR 73.1125 (drug use); food use is limited to citrus-based dry beverage mixes at no more than 0.2% of the dry mix. Federal Register Vol. 67, No. 97 (2002).source
National Health Commission (NHC) (China)	Approved	Recognised as copper–sodium chlorophyllin (CNS 0.009); allowed for use in specific food categories with fixed maximum levels under the National Food Safety Standard for Food Additives (GB 2760).source
MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) (Japan)	Approved	Listed as a designated food additive (No. 265: sodium–copper chlorophyllin) under the Japanese Food Sanitation Law; specific target foods and maximum limits are defined in national regulations.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Kidney Disease — The copper moiety in sodium copper chlorophyllin contributes to total dietary copper load; individuals with copper-handling impairments (e.g., Wilson's disease or chronic kidney disease reducing copper excretion) may be at increased risk of copper accumulation, as EFSA has noted copper retention can be a marker of toxicity.

Liver Disease — Copper is primarily excreted via bile; impaired hepatic function (including Wilson's disease) can reduce copper clearance, and EFSA data indicate potential copper toxicity from chronic retention at elevated intakes.

Pregnancy — Animal studies on chlorophyllin derivatives have examined embryo/fetal developmental effects (García-Rodríguez et al., 2002), and the unresolved genotoxicity data flagged by EFSA ANS 2015 justify precautionary limitation during pregnancy.

Infants — EFSA notes that copper ADI-level exposure is extremely unlikely to cause hepatic copper retention in children due to growth-related higher requirements, but infants have immature detoxification pathways and sodium copper chlorophyllin should not be present in infant food formulations.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1PubMed. Green Natural Colorants (PMC6337735), 2019. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2EFSA. Safety and efficacy of copper complexes of chlorophylls for ornamental fish, grain-eating ornamental birds and small rodents and of copper complexes of chlorophyllins for all animal species, 2016. efsa.europa.eu
3EFSA. Scientific Opinion on re-evaluation of copper complexes of chlorophylls (E 141(i)) and chlorophyllins (E 141(ii)) as food additives, 2015. efsa.europa.eu
4FDA. Listing of Color Additives Exempt from Certification; Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin — 21 CFR 73.125, 2002. accessdata.fda.gov
5WHO. JECFA Evaluation: Chlorophyllins, Copper Complexes, Sodium and Potassium Salts (INS 141(ii)), 1978. apps.who.int

Independently researched5 citations