Fast Green FCF

Identifiers

INS No. 143
FD&C Green No. 3
CAS No. 2353-45-9
CI Food Green 3

Physical Description

Fast green is a triphenylmethane dye that occurs as a red to brown-violet powder or granules It is primarily the inner disodium salt of N-ethyl-N-[4- [[4-[ethyl[(3-sulfophenyl)methyl]amino] phenyl](4-hydroxy-2-sulfophenyl)methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene]-3-sulfobenzene -methanaminium hydroxide. It may be converted to the corresponding aluminum lake.

Common Uses

Fast green FCF is used for coloring cosmetics, drugs, and food, including dietary supplements, breakfast cereals, cakes and cupcakes, drink mixers and frozen treats.

Specifications

Regulatory Approvals

JECFA: ADI of 0-25 mg/kg bw (84th Report, 2017. There are more than 40 food categories for which maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for Fast Green FCF (INS No. 143) have been adopted in the General Standard of Food Additives.)

USA: FD&C Green No. 3, along with its aluminum lake (21 CFR 82.203), were permanently listed as subject to certification in 1982 and may be safely used for coloring foods (including dietary supplements) generally (21 CFR 74.203), drugs generally (21 CFR 74.1203) and cosmetics generally (21 CFR 74.2203) in amounts consistent with GMP
EU: Not authorized for use. 

Safety Reviews

Safety Evaluation of certain food additives (84th report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) WHO Food Additive Series No.75, 2019. Available online

FDA Final Rule. 47 FR 52143; Nov 19, 1982. Available online