Allervibe
E141
Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins
A green colour made by replacing the magnesium at the centre of plant chlorophyll with copper.
i Additive Details
| Is E141 Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins safe?
The additive contains copper, which is the reason regulators set a numerical intake limit for it at all. It is not suitable for people who have been advised to restrict copper, in particular anyone with Wilson's disease. At normal use levels the copper it contributes is small compared with the copper in an ordinary diet.
| Uses
Colours sugar confectionery, chewing gum, ice cream, dairy desserts, sauces, canned and pickled vegetables, soups, drinks and some cheeses. The copper form holds a bright green through heat, light and acid, unlike plain chlorophyll (E140), which fades to olive brown.
| Interactions
Specifications limit the amount of free, unbound copper, because free copper would catalyse the oxidation of fats and of vitamin C in the same product. It is often blended with yellow colours such as curcumin (E100) or riboflavin (E101) to produce different shades of green.
| Origin
Chlorophyll is extracted with solvents from edible plant material such as grass, lucerne or nettle, and the magnesium at the centre of the molecule is then exchanged for copper. E141(i) covers the copper complexes of chlorophylls and E141(ii) the water-soluble copper complexes of chlorophyllins.
| Daily Intake
JECFA has set an ADI of 0 to 15 mg per kg of body weight per day for copper complexes of chlorophyllins. The limit exists because of the copper content rather than the chlorophyll part.
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
- E170 Calcium carbonate A white mineral used as a colour, acidity regulator, anti-caking agent and calcium source in food.
- E100 Curcumin The yellow pigment extracted from turmeric root, used to colour food.
- E101 Riboflavin Vitamin B2, a yellow-orange vitamin that is also used as a food colour.
- E162 Beetroot red A red-violet pigment (betanin) obtained from red beetroot.
- E163 Anthocyanins Water-soluble red, purple and blue plant pigments used as a food colour.
- E150a Plain caramel The Class I caramel colour, made by heating sugars without ammonia or sulphite reagents.
Spot Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins 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 Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins 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