E101 Riboflavin: Food Colouring Explained
E101 is an approved food colouring agent based on riboflavin (vitamin B2). It gives foods a yellow to orange-yellow colour and is considered safe for consumption.
Things worth knowing about "E101"
E101 is an approved food colouring agent based on riboflavin (vitamin B2). It gives foods a yellow to orange-yellow colour and is considered safe for consumption.
What is E101?
E101 is the official EU designation for the food colouring agent riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2. The designation E101 covers both riboflavin (E101) and riboflavin-5-phosphate sodium (E101a). This additive is used to give foods a characteristic yellow to orange-yellow colour.
Origin and Production
Riboflavin occurs naturally in many foods, including dairy products, eggs, meat, and green leafy vegetables. For use as a food colouring, E101 is either extracted from natural sources or produced through microbial fermentation (biotechnological manufacturing). It can therefore be either natural or synthetic in origin.
Use in Food Products
E101 is used in a wide variety of food products, including:
- Dairy products and desserts
- Bakery goods and confectionery
- Sauces and soup products
- Food supplements and vitamin preparations
- Beverages and fruit preparations
The colouring is primarily used to maintain or enhance the visual appeal of products, especially when natural colours are lost during processing.
Safety and Health Assessment
E101 is considered safe by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Since riboflavin is an essential vitamin required by the human body, no adverse effects are known at the amounts typically used in food. No specific ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) limit has been established for E101, as it is classified as physiologically safe.
Allergies and Intolerances
Intolerances to E101 are extremely rare. Unlike some other food colourings (e.g. azo dyes), E101 is not suspected of promoting hyperactivity in children or triggering allergic reactions.
Labelling Requirements
Under EU food labelling regulations, E101 must be listed in the ingredients of a food product, either as E101 or as riboflavin. No special warning labelling, as required for certain azo dyes, is necessary for E101.
References
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Re-evaluation of riboflavin (E 101i) and riboflavin-5-phosphate sodium (E 101ii) as food additives. EFSA Journal, 2013.
- World Health Organization (WHO) / FAO: Riboflavin. In: Safety evaluation of certain food additives. WHO Food Additives Series, Geneva.
- European Parliament and Council: Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives.
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Related search terms: E101-en