Brilliant blue FCF

Brilliant Blue FCF

Brilliant Blue FCF (also known as FD&C Blue No.1) is a colourant that may be added to foods to induce a colour change. It is denoted by E Number E133, and has the capacity for inducing an allergic reaction.

It is a synthetic dye derived from coal tar. It can be combined with tartrazine to produce various shades of green. It is often found in ice cream, tinned processed peas, dairy products, sweets, and drinks.

It has been banned in: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. In the United States production exceeds 1 million pounds annually, and daily consumption is around 16mg per person.

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

External links

• The Chemistry of Colors
• FDA Public Health Advisory
• The hyperactive children's support group