Allervibe
E122
Azorubine (carmoisine)
A synthetic bluish-red azo dye, also sold under the name carmoisine.
i Additive Details
| Is E122 Azorubine (carmoisine) safe?
Products containing E122 must carry the EU warning 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' (Regulation EC 1333/2008). Intolerance reactions are reported in some people with aspirin or salicylate sensitivity and in a subset of people with asthma, but the evidence rests largely on case reports rather than controlled trials. Azorubine is not authorised as a food colour in the United States.
| Uses
Gives a bluish red colour to sweets, jellies, marzipan, jams and preserves, packet desserts and soups, flavoured yoghurts, sauces, soft drinks and the rind of some cheeses. It is also used in some medicines and in cosmetics.
| Interactions
Often blended with E124 or E129 for a deeper red, and with E102 or E110 to produce orange and brown tones. It was one of the six colours in the 2007 Southampton study on additive mixtures and children's behaviour, which is the basis for the EU warning label. Like E110, E124 and E129 it is an azo dye.
| Origin
Synthetic. Produced by azo coupling of diazotised naphthionic acid with a naphthol sulphonic acid, using petroleum-derived aromatic starting materials.
| Daily Intake
EFSA's 2009 re-evaluation kept the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) at 4 mg per kg of body weight per day, while noting that intake among children at the high end of consumption could approach or exceed it.
Information is sourced from public regulatory bodies (EFSA, FDA, WHO) and is for reference only. Always read the package and consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
Related additives
- E171 Titanium dioxide A white mineral pigment used as a colorant and opacifier.
- E104 Quinoline yellow A synthetic greenish-yellow dye of the quinophthalone class, used to colour food, drink and medicines.
- E110 Sunset yellow FCF A synthetic orange-yellow azo dye, known in the United States as FD&C Yellow No. 6.
- E124 Ponceau 4R A synthetic red azo dye, also called cochineal red A, with no connection to cochineal insects.
- E129 Allura red AC A synthetic red azo dye, known in the United States as FD&C Red No. 40.
- E120 Cochineal / Carminic acid A red pigment extracted from the dried bodies of the cochineal insect Dactylopius coccus.
Spot Azorubine (carmoisine) with Allervibe
Reading every line of the ingredient list to find a single additive takes time. Allervibe pulls the full additive breakdown from each scan so you can see Azorubine (carmoisine) at a glance.
- ▮ Scan a barcode to see every additive listed for that product
- ▲ Open any additive for plain-language information
- ↻ Save products to favorites so repeat checks are instant