E141
Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins
(i) Copper complexes of chlorophylls
(ii) Copper complexes of chlorophyllins

These colours are (i) an olive green oil soluble colour and (ii) water soluble green colour.

They are derived from Chlorophyll, E140, by substitution of copper for the magnesium, which increases their stability.

Can be found in some types of cheese, chewing gum, ice cream, Parsley sauce, soups and green vegetables and fruits preserved in liquids.


E142
Greens S

A green synthetic coal tar dye found in desserts, gravy granules, ice cream, mint sauce, sweets and tinned peas.

Prohibited in Canada, Finland, Japan, Norway, Sweden and the United States.


E150a
Plain Caramel

This colouring, which ranges from dark brown to black, is made by controlled heat treatment of sugar, with or without the presence of alkalis or acids. The caramel group of colours (see also E150b, E150c and E150d) are the most widely used group of colours, comprising some 98% of all colours used.

Between them they can be found in beer, brown bread, buns, chocolate, biscuits, brandy, chocolate flavoured flour based confectionery, coatings, decorations, fillings and toppings, crisps, dessert mixes, doughnuts, fish and shellfish spreads, frozen desserts, glucose tablets, gravy browning, ice cream, jams, milk desserts, pancakes, pickles, sauces and dressings, soft drinks particularly cola drinks, stouts, sweets, vinegar, whisky and wines.

The most common source is sugar beet or sugar cane but as it is possible to use sugar from maize starch it may come from a Genetically Modified crop.


E150b
Caustic sulphite caramel

This colouring, which ranges from dark brown to black, is made by controlled heat treatment of sugar with sulphur dioxide. The caramel group of colours (see also E150a, E150c and E150d) are the most widely used group of colours, comprising some 98% of all colours used.

Between them they can be found in beer, brown bread, buns, chocolate, biscuits, brandy, chocolate flavoured flour based confectionery, coatings, decorations, fillings and toppings, crisps, dessert mixes, doughnuts, fish and shellfish spreads, frozen desserts, glucose tablets, gravy browning, ice cream, jams, milk desserts, pancakes, pickles, sauces and dressings, soft drinks particularly cola drinks, stouts, sweets, vinegar, whisky and wines.

The most common source is sugar beet or sugar cane but as it is possible to use sugar from maize starch it may come from a Genetically Modified crop.


E150c
Ammonia caramel

  This colouring, which ranges from dark brown to black, is made by controlled heat treatment of sugar with ammonia. The caramel group of colours (see also E150a, E150b and E150d) are the most widely used group of colours, comprising some 98% of all colours used.

Between them they can be found in beer, brown bread, buns, chocolate, biscuits, brandy, chocolate flavoured flour based confectionery, coatings, decorations, fillings and toppings, crisps, dessert mixes, doughnuts, fish and shellfish spreads, frozen desserts, glucose tablets, gravy browning, ice cream, jams, milk desserts, pancakes, pickles, sauces and dressings, soft drinks particularly cola drinks, stouts, sweets, vinegar, whisky and wines.

The most common source is sugar beet or sugar cane but as it is possible to use sugar from maize starch it may come from a Genetically Modified crop.



E150d
Sulphite ammonia caramel

This colouring, which ranges from dark brown to black, is made by controlled heat treatment of sugar with ammonia and sulphite containing compounds. The caramel group of colours (see also E150a, E150b and E150c) are the most widely used group of colours, comprising some 98% of all colours used.

Between them they can be found in beer, brown bread, buns, chocolate, biscuits, brandy, chocolate flavoured flour based confectionery, coatings, decorations, fillings and toppings, crisps, dessert mixes, doughnuts, fish and shellfish spreads, frozen desserts, glucose tablets, gravy browning, ice cream, jams, milk desserts, pancakes, pickles, sauces and dressings, soft drinks particularly cola drinks, stouts, sweets, vinegar, whisky and wines.

The most common source is sugar beet or sugar cane but as it is possible to use sugar from maize starch it may come from a Genetically Modified crop.


E151
Black PN, Brilliant Black BN

A violet/black synthetic 'coal tar' and azo dye.

Used in decorations and coatings, desserts, fish paste, flavoured milk drinks, ice cream, mustard, red fruit jams, sauces, savoury snacks, soft drinks, soups and sweets.

It is one of the colours that the Hyperactive Children's Support Group recommends be eliminated from the diet of children.

Its use is banned in Canada, Finland, Japan, Norway and the United States.


E153
Carbon black, Vegetable carbon

Whilst this black colouring can be obtained from various sources including activated charcoal, bones, meat, blood, various fats oils and resins or just the incomplete combustion of natural gas, it is normally derived from burnt vegetable matter. This could include Genetically Modified crops.

Vegetarians should note that it can be of animal origin.

Can be found in concentrated fruit juices, jams, jellies and liquorice.

Banned as a food additive in the United States of America. Suspected as a carcinogenic agent although it is now believed that this may have been due to the presence of impurities.


E154
Brown FK, Kipper Brown 

A highly suspect brown mixture of six synthetic azo dyes together with other colourings and sodium chloride and/or sodium sulphate.

Found mainly in kippers and smoked mackerel but also occasionally in cooked hams and crisps.

It is one of the colours that the Hyperactive Children's Support Group recommends be eliminated from the diet of children.

Apart from the UK its use is banned throughout the EU as well as in Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Sweden and the United States.


E155
Brown HT, Chocolate brown HT

A brown synthetic 'coal tar' and azo dye found mainly in chocolate flavour cakes.

It appears to cause allergic and/or intolerance reactions, particularly amongst those with an aspirin intolerance and asthma sufferers.

It is one of the colours that the Hyperactive Children's Support Group recommends be eliminated from the diet of children.

Its use is banned in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.


E160a
Alpha-carotene, Beta-carotene, Gamma-carotene

Orange or yellow plant pigments, found mainly in carrots, green leafed vegetables and tomatoes, which becomes vitamin A in the body. Fades on exposure to light.

Can be commercially manufactured in the laboratory but beta-carotene, with some alpha-carotene and gamma-carotene present, is normally extracted from carrots with hexane.

Used in butter and soft margarines, coffee sponge cakes, milk products and soft drinks.

Cancer sufferers are known to have low levels of vitamin A but it is not known whether this is causal or resultant.

Vegetarians should be aware that some manufacturers use gelatine (see E441) as a stabiliser. With the move away from porcine and bovine gelatine this is likely to be fish gelatine.


E160b
Annatto, bixin, norbixin

  A yellow, peach or red vegetable dye obtained from the seed coat of the fruit of the Annatto tree, Bixa orellana. May be either oil-soluble or water soluble and is stable in processing, baking and brine.

Mechanical abrasion using food grade vegetable oil produces oil-soluble Annatto. Bixin can then extracted by solvents such as acetone, hexane or methanol, with further processing with an aqueous alkali producing Norbixin. Water soluble Annatto, containing both Norbixin and Bixin which can then be extracted, is obtained by agitation with an aqueous alkali.

Currently being used in place of the highly allergenic tartrazine, E102, although the Hyperactive Children's Support Group believe there is a possibility of an allergic reaction to Annatto.

Used, sometimes in combination with E100, in cheese (Cheshire, Double Gloucester and Red Leicester), coleslaw, crisps, custard, fish fingers, flavoured instant mashed potato, fruit and cream fillings and toppings, frying oil, ice cream and lollies, icings, liqueurs, low calorie spreads, margarine, meat balls, salad cream and mayonnaise, smoked fish, soft drinks, sponge cakes and puddings, steak and kidney pie pastry and yoghurt.


E160c
Capsanthin, capsorubin, Paprika extract

An orange to red colour extracted from the fruit pod and seeds of the red pepper, Capsicum annuum.

Normally obtained by solvent extraction from the Hungarian variety with Spain being a major producer.

Used widely in poultry feed to deepen the colour of egg yolks (see also E161b) it can also be found in cheese slices and chicken pies.

Expect to see more use in meat products with the swing away from synthetic colours towards the natural ones.


E160d
Lycopene

  A red colour extracted from tomatoes, the richest source, but also found in pink grapefruit, shellfish and watermelon, which does not appear to be in use currently.

Be aware that if it does become widely available it may be produced from Genetically Modified tomatoes.

There has been much made of Lycopene being very useful for its' anti-cancer properties along with helping to fight heart disease and male infertility but it is not apparent whether the quantities that would be used as an additive would be beneficial - the recommendation being to eat a tomato a day! (GM tomatoes have not yet been approved for general sale as tomatoes - only purées and pastes).

Current Canadian research (April 2003) by Dr. Leticia Rao of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto has shown that Lycopene has the effect of increasing the activity of osteoblasts, which maintain bone mass, while reducing the action of osteoclasts, which destroy bone mass and are overactive in osteoporosis. However again it is unlikely that the quantities that would be used as an additive would be beneficial.


E160e
Beta-apo-8'-carotenal

An orange to red colour, normally synthetic when used as a food colour, although it occurs naturally in oranges and tangerines.

Can be found in cheese slices.


E160f
Ethyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenic acid

An orange-yellow synthetic colour similar to E160e.



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