Food Safety Substance
CanthaxanthinE161G
Canthaxanthin (E161G) is a food additive with PUBLISHED in the EU, GRAS in the US, and data from 8 regulatory sources.
CAS 514-78-3
E161G
colorant
Indexable evidence set
FDA
GRAS
ADI / TDI
EFSA ADI = 0.03 mg/kg bw/day
Codex
34 row(s)
SOURCE
D1 identity resolution
e number aliases | Food Additives | dsstox identifiers | 8 matched regulatory source group(s)
Substance Identity
Resolved identifiers used to render this food-safety record.
Substance name
Canthaxanthin
CAS
514-78-3
E-number
E161G
Food category
colorant
DTXSID
DTXSID0022727
PubChem CID
5281227
Evidence tier
Indexable evidence set (14)
SOURCE
EU Commission
FDA | Health Canada | Codex Alimentarius
Multi-Jurisdiction Comparison
Side-by-side status rows for the same resolved substance across public food regulators.
| Jurisdiction | Authority | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | EU Commission | PUBLISHED | EU additive listing; Annex II entry |
| Canada | Health Canada | Listed | Food Colours |
| Codex | Codex Alimentarius | Listed | Colour |
SOURCE
EU Commission
EU Food Additives | EU Food Additives Database
EU Food Additive Status
EU Commission food-additive listing rows from eu_food_additives.
| Jurisdiction | E-number | Status | Type | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | E161G | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Canthaxanthin | Canthaxanthin is not authorised in the food categories listed in Part D and E. The substance is in list B1 because it is used in medicinal products in accordance with Directive... |
SOURCE
EU Commission
EU Annex II Authorised | EU Food Additives Database
EU Annex II Authorised Uses
Authorised additive rows and use conditions from EU Annex II tables.
| Jurisdiction | E-number | Name | INS | Policy item | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | E161G | Canthaxanthin | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3016 | Canthaxanthin is not authorised in the food categories listed in Part D and E. The substance is in list B1 because it is used in medicinal products in accordance with Directive... |
Conditions and restrictions
| Jurisdiction | Food category | Restriction | Comment | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | - | - | - | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | - | - | - | EU Food Additives Database |
SOURCE
Codex Alimentarius
Codex GSFA
Codex GSFA Status
Codex Alimentarius GSFA permissions and maximum-use rows.
| Jurisdiction | INS / E-number | Function | Food category | Max level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 01.1.4 Flavoured fluid milk drinks | 15 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Fermented Milks (CXS 243-2003).; Excluding chocolate milk. |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 01.6.1 Unripened cheese | 15 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cottage Cheese (CXS 273-1968).; For use in flavoured products only.; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cream... |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 01.6.2 Ripened cheese | 15 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Brie (CXS 277-1973).; Excluding products conforming to the General Standard for Cheese (CXS 283-1978).; Excluding products... |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 01.6.4.2 Flavoured processed cheese, including containing fruit, vegetables, meat, etc. | 15 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 01.6.5 Cheese analogues | 15 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 01.7 Dairy-based desserts (e.g. pudding, fruit or flavoured yoghurt) | 15 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Fermented Milks (CXS 243-2003). |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 02.2.2 Fat spreads, dairy fat spreads and blended spreads | 15 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Fat Spreads and Blended Spreads (CXS 256-2007).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dairy Fat Spreads (CXS... |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 02.3 Fat emulsions mainly of type oil-in-water, including mixed and/or flavoured products based on fat emulsions | 15 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 02.4 Fat-based desserts excluding dairy-based dessert products of food category 01.7 | 15 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 04.1.2.11 Fruit fillings for pastries | 15 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 04.1.2.5 Jams, jellies, marmelades | 200 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Jams, Jellies and Marmalades (CODEX STAN 296-2009). |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 04.1.2.6 Fruit-based spreads (e.g. chutney) excluding products of food category 04.1.2.5 | 15 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Mango Chutney (CODEX STAN 160-1987). |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 04.1.2.9 Fruit-based desserts, including fruit-flavoured water-based desserts | 15 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 04.2.2.2 Dried vegetables (including mushrooms and fungi, roots and tubers, pulses and legumes, and aloe vera), seaweeds, and nuts and seeds | 10 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Regional Standard for Laver Products (CXS 323R-2017). |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 06.4.2 Dried pastas and noodles and like products | 15 mg/kg | For use in noodles only. |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 06.4.3 Pre-cooked pastas and noodles and like products | 15 mg/kg | For use in instant noodles only.; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Instant Noodles (CXS 249-2006). |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 06.5 Cereal and starch based desserts (e.g. rice pudding, tapioca pudding) | 15 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 08.3.1.1 Cured (including salted) non-heat treated processed comminuted meat, poultry, and game products | 100 mg/kg | For use in glaze, coatings or decorations for fruit, vegetables, meat or fish only.; For use in decoration, stamping, marking or branding the product only.; Except for use in... |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 09.2.1 Frozen fish, fish fillets, and fish products, including mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms | 35 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Quick Frozen Finfish, Uneviscerated and Eviscerated (CODEX STAN 36-1981).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for... |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 09.2.5 Smoked, dried, fermented, and/or salted fish and fish products, including mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms | 15 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Salted Fish and Dried Salted Fish of the Gadidae Family of Fishes (CODEX STAN 167-1989).; Excluding products conforming to the... |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 09.3.3 Salmon substitutes, caviar, and other fish roe products | 15 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Sturgeon Caviar (CODEX STAN 291-2010). |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 09.4 Fully preserved, including canned or fermented fish and fish products, including mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms | 15 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Canned Tuna and Bonito (70-1981).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Canned Sardines and Sardine-Type Products... |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 10.1 Fresh eggs | GMP | For use in decoration, stamping, marking or branding the product only. |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 10.4 Egg-based desserts (e.g. custard) | 15 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 11.4 Other sugars and syrups (e.g. xylose, maple syrup, sugar toppings) | 15 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 12.2.2 Seasonings and condiments | 20 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 12.5.2 Mixes for soups and broths | 30 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Codex Standard for Bouillons and Consommés (CODEX STAN 117-1981). |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 12.6 Sauces and like products | 30 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Chilli Sauce (CXS 306-2011).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Fish Sauce (CODEX STAN 302-2011). |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 14.1.4.1 Carbonated water-based flavoured drinks | 5 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 14.1.4.2 Non-carbonated water-based flavoured drinks, including punches and ades | 5 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 14.1.4.3 Concentrates (liquid or solid) for water-based flavoured drinks | 5 mg/kg | On the served to the consumer basis. |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 14.2.6 Distilled spirituous beverages containing more than 15% alcohol | 5 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 14.2.7 Aromatized alcoholic beverages (e.g. beer, wine and spirituous cooler-type beverages, low alcoholic refreshers) | 5 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 161g | Colour | 15.1 Snacks - potato, cereal, flour or starch based (from roots and tubers, pulses and legumes) | 45 mg/kg | - |
SOURCE
Health Canada
Health Canada Status
Health Canada food-additive permissions by functional class and food scope.
| Jurisdiction | Class | Permitted foods | Maximum level | List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Food Colours | (a) Apple and (naming the fruit or fruits) jam; Bread; Butter; Concentrated (naming the fruit) juice, except frozen concentrated orange juice; Fig marmalade with pectin; Fish roe (caviar); Ice cream mix; Ice milk mix;... | (a) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (b) Blend of prepared fish and prepared meat as set out in paragraph 18.1.3(g) of Volume 18 of the Food Compositional Standards Document | (b) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (c) Calorie-reduced margarine; Margarine | (c) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (d) Unstandardized foods | (d) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
SOURCE
JECFA
JECFA ADI
JECFA ADI Values
JECFA ADI records and evaluation years.
| Jurisdiction | Chemical name | JECFA no. | CAS | ADI | ADI upper | Function | Evaluation year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JECFA | CANTHAXANTHIN | - | 514-78-3 | 0-0.03 mg/kg bw | 0.03 | COLOUR | 1995 |
SOURCE
ingredients
ghs classifications
Cross-Reference to Cosmetics / Chemicals / Pharma
Same-CAS public rows from adjacent Roots verticals where available.
SOURCE
Cross-vertical comparison
ingredients | ghs classifications
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
This substance has different regulatory treatment across food, cosmetics, and industrial use.
SOURCE
FAQPage JSON-LD
public food renderer rows
Frequently Asked Questions
Food-use, safety, ADI, and cross-vertical answers mirrored into FAQPage JSON-LD.
What is Canthaxanthin used for in food?
Canthaxanthin appears in food-use rows as: Antioxidant/Color; Colour; Food Colours.
Is Canthaxanthin / E161G safe?
This page does not assign a standalone safety verdict; it renders public regulatory evidence. ADI/reference value: EFSA ADI = 0.03 mg/kg bw/day. EU status evidence: PUBLISHED. US/FDA evidence: GRAS.
What is the ADI for Canthaxanthin?
Canthaxanthin has this ADI/reference value in the food-safety tables: EFSA ADI = 0.03 mg/kg bw/day. Source: EFSA FEEDAP 2014.
Is Canthaxanthin also used in cosmetics?
Canthaxanthin has a same-CAS cosmetics cross-reference: CI 40850, EU status permitted.