Erythrosine

Identifiers

INS No. 127
FD&C Red No. 3
E 127
CI Food Red 14
CAS No. 16423-68-0

Physical Description

Erythrosine occurs as a brown powder or granules. It is a xanthene dye, consisting of the disodium salt of 2-(2,4,5,7-tetraiodo-6-oxido-3-oxoxanthen-9-yl)benzoate monohydrate and subsidiary coloring matters.

Common Uses

Erythrosine provides a watermelon-red color and can be used in foods and pharmaceuticals, including baked goods, breakfast cereals, confectionery products, dairy products, decorations for baking, dressings and sauces, dried fruit, frostings and icings, frozen breakfast foods, frozen treats, hot beverages, juice drinks and processed fish, meat and egg products.

Specifications

Regulatory Approvals

In addition to its approved uses in the European Union and by JECFA, erythrosine, also known as Red Dye No. 3, is allowed in many countries worldwide. This includes Japan via its list of designated additives, China in 14 food categories via its Food Additives standard (GB 2760), and Foods Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), which permits use in candied cherries, icings, and frostings.

JECFA: ADI of 0-0.1 mg/kg bw (86th meeting, 2018). There are 8 food categories for which maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for erythrosine (INS No. 127) have been adopted in the General Standard of Food Additives (GSFA).
USA: FD&C Red No. 3 is subject to certification and may be safely used for coloring foods generally (including dietary supplements) (21 CFR 74.303) and ingested drugs (21 CFR 74.1303) in amounts consistent with GMP. FD&C Red No. 3 was permanently listed for use in food and ingested drugs in 1969. FDA has issued a revocation of the permanent listing in foods (effective January 15, 2027) and drugs (effective January 18, 2028).

EU: ADI of 0-0.1 mg/kg body weight (EFSA, 2011). Erythrosine is exclusively authorized for use in cocktail and candied cherries, and Bigarreaux cherries (94/36/EC).

Safety Reviews

Safety Evaluation of certain food additives (86th meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) WHO Food additives series 77, 2020.  Available online

EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS); Scientific Opinion on the reevaluation of Erythrosine (E 127) as a food additive. EFSA Journal 2011;9(1):1854. [46 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2011.1854. Available online

FDA Final Rule. 34 FR 7446; May 8, 1969. Available online

FDA Final amendment; order. 90 FR 4628; Jan 16, 2025. Available online