Food Safety Substance
AmaranthE123
Amaranth (E123) is a food additive with PUBLISHED in the EU, Banned (since 1976) in the US, and data from 8 regulatory sources.
CAS 915-67-3
E123
Indexable evidence set
FDA
Banned (since 1976)
ADI / TDI
EFSA ADI = 0.15 mg/kg bw/day
Codex
12 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
Amaranth
CAS
915-67-3
E-number
E123
DTXSID
DTXSID2021232
PubChem CID
13506
Evidence tier
Indexable evidence set (11)
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 | E123 | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Amaranth | - |
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 | E123 | Amaranth | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-2992 | - |
Conditions and restrictions
| Jurisdiction | Food category | Restriction | Comment | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | 9.3 fish roe | ML 30 mg/kg | except Sturgeons' eggs (Caviar) | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 14.2.6 Spirit drinks as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/787 | ML 30 mg/l | except: spirit drinks as defined in categories 1-17, 22, 36, 37 and 41 of Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/787 | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 14.2.7 Aromatised wine products as defined by Regulation (EU) No 251/2014 | ML 100 mg/l | only bitter soda | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 14.2.7.1 Aromatised wines | ML 30 mg/l | only wine-based aperitif’ | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 14.2.7.1 Aromatised wines | ML 30 mg/l | only wine-based aperitif’ | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 14.2.8 Other alcoholic beverages including mixtures of alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages and other alcoholic beverages based on distilled alcohol with alcoholic strength by volume less than 15 % | ML 30 mg/l | only alcoholic beverages with alcoholic strength by volume less than 15 % | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 14.2.6 Spirit drinks as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/787 | ML 30 mg/l | except: spirit drinks as defined in categories 1-17, 22, 36, 37 and 41 of Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2019/787 | EU Food Additives Database |
| European Union | 14.2.7.1 Aromatised wines | ML 30 mg/l | only wine-based aperitif’ | EU Food Additives Database |
| European Union | 14.2.7.1 Aromatised wines | ML 30 mg/l | only wine-based aperitif’ | EU Food Additives Database |
| European Union | 14.2.7 Aromatised wine products as defined by Regulation (EU) No 251/2014 | ML 100 mg/l | only bitter soda | EU Food Additives Database |
| European Union | 9.3 fish roe | ML 30 mg/kg | except Sturgeons' eggs (Caviar) | EU Food Additives Database |
| European Union | 14.2.8 Other alcoholic beverages including mixtures of alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages and other alcoholic beverages based on distilled alcohol with alcoholic strength by volume less than 15 % | ML 30 mg/l | only alcoholic beverages with alcoholic strength by volume less than 15 % | 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 | 123 | Colour | 01.1.4 Flavoured fluid milk drinks | 50 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Fermented Milks (CXS 243-2003).; Excluding chocolate milk. |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 03.0 Edible ices, including sherbet and sorbet | 25 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 04.1.2.5 Jams, jellies, marmelades | 100 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Jams, Jellies and Marmalades (CODEX STAN 296-2009). |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 04.1.2.7 Candied fruit | 50 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 04.1.2.9 Fruit-based desserts, including fruit-flavoured water-based desserts | 80 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 04.2.2.3 Vegetables (including mushrooms and fungi, roots and tubers, pulses and legumes, and aloe vera), and seaweeds in vinegar, oil, brine, or soybean sauce | 50 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Table Olives (CODEX STAN 66-1981).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Pickled Cucumbers (Cucumber Pickles) (CODEX... |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 05.3 Chewing gum | 100 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 05.4 Decorations (e.g. for fine bakery wares), toppings (non-fruit) and sweet sauces | 100 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 06.4.3 Pre-cooked pastas and noodles and like products | 100 mg/kg | For use in instant noodles conforming to the Standard for Instant Noodles (CODEX STAN 249-2006) only. |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 06.5 Cereal and starch based desserts (e.g. rice pudding, tapioca pudding) | 80 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 09.4 Fully preserved, including canned or fermented fish and fish products, including mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms | 30 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Canned Crab Meat (CODEX STAN 90-1981).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Canned Sardines and Sardine-Type... |
| Codex | 123 | Colour | 14.2.7 Aromatized alcoholic beverages (e.g. beer, wine and spirituous cooler-type beverages, low alcoholic refreshers) | 100 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; Fig marmalade with pectin; (Naming the fruit or fruits) jam with pectin; (Naming the fruit or fruits) jelly with pectin; Pineapple marmalade with pectin; Rhubarb and... | (a) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 300 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 300 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (b) Concentrates for unstandardized non-carbonated fruit flavoured beverages; Mixes for unstandardized non-carbonated fruit flavoured beverages | (b) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 90 ppm in the beverage as consumed. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm in the beverage as consumed, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 90 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the beverage as consumed not to exceed 90 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (c) Cream soda; Grape soda; Unstandardized non-carbonated fruit-flavoured beverages | (c) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 90 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 90 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 90 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (d) Eggnog; Yogurt | (d) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 15 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 15 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 15 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (e) Hard candies | (e) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 50 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 50 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 50 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (f) Ice cream mix | (f) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 55 ppm in the ice cream. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm in the ice cream, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 55 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the ice cream not to exceed 55 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (g) Ice milk mix | (g) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 55 ppm in the ice milk. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm in the ice milk, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 55 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the ice milk not to exceed 55 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (h) Liqueur; Unstandardized alcoholic beverages | (h) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 300 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 300 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (i) (Naming the flavour) milk; (Naming the flavour) partly skimmed milk; (Naming the flavour) partly skimmed milk with added milk solids; (Naming the flavour) skim milk; (Naming the flavour) skim milk with added milk... | (i) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 50 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 50 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 50 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (j) Sherbet | (j) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 55 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 55 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 55 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (k) Smoked fish | (k) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 50 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 50 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 50 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (l) Snack foods | (l) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 250 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 250 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 250 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (m) Unstandardized bakery products | (m) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 40 ppm in the food as consumed. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm in the food as consumed, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 40 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food as consumed not to exceed 40 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (n) Unstandardized confectionery for use in the manufacture of ice cream and ice milk; Unstandardized foods for use in the manufacture of foods set out in this item | (n) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (o) Unstandardized desserts, except unstandardized frozen desserts; Unstandardized dessert toppings | (o) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 100 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 100 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 100 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (p) Unstandardized dessert mixes | (p) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 100 ppm in the food as consumed. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm in the food as consumed, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 100 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food as consumed not to exceed 100 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (q) Unstandardized dressings for salads | (q) If used singly, the total amount not to exceed 150 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 150 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 150 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (r) Unstandardized frozen desserts | (r) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 55 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 55 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 55 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (s) Unstandardized fruit spreads; Unstandardized sauces for dipping | (s) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 300 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 300 ppm. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (t) Unstandardized seasonings | (t) If used singly, the amount not to exceed 200 ppm. If used in any combination with allura red, brilliant blue FCF, erythrosine, fast green FCF, indigotine, sunset yellow FCF or tartrazine, the total combined amount not to exceed 300 ppm, provided that the amount of amaranth does not exceed 200 ppm and the amount of brilliant blue FCF or fast green FCF, or both, does not exceed 100 ppm. In any case, including where amaranth is added pursuant to paragraph (n), the total amount of amaranth in the food not to exceed 200 ppm. | 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 | AMARANTH | - | 915-67-3 | 0-0.5 mg/kg bw | 0.5 | COLOUR | 1984 |
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 Amaranth used for in food?
Amaranth appears in food-use rows as: Food colorant; Colour; Food Colours.
Is Amaranth / E123 safe?
This page does not assign a standalone safety verdict; it renders public regulatory evidence. ADI/reference value: EFSA ADI = 0.15 mg/kg bw/day. EU status evidence: PUBLISHED. US/FDA evidence: Banned (since 1976).
What is the ADI for Amaranth?
Amaranth has this ADI/reference value in the food-safety tables: EFSA ADI = 0.15 mg/kg bw/day. Source: EFSA ANS 2010.
Is Amaranth also used in cosmetics?
Amaranth has a same-CAS cosmetics cross-reference: CI 16185, EU status restricted.