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

JECFA 

US FDA

Codex GSFA Provisions

Fast green FCF (INS No. 143) is added to foods and beverages at concentrations up to a maximum permitted level (MPL) as established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. There are more than 30 food categories for which MPLs for fast green have been adopted in the General Standard of Food Additives.

Regulatory Approvals

JECFA: ADI of 0-25 mg/kg bw (84th Report, 2017)

USA: FD&C Green No. 3, along with its aluminum lake (21 CFR 82.203), are subject to certification 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

Safety Reviews

Evaluation of certain food additives (84th report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) WHO Technical Report Series No.1007, 2017. Available online