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E132 – Indigotine: Blue Food Colorant Explained

E132, known as indigotine or indigo carmine, is a synthetic blue food colorant approved in the EU for use in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

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Things worth knowing about "E132"

E132, known as indigotine or indigo carmine, is a synthetic blue food colorant approved in the EU for use in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

What is E132?

E132, commonly known as indigotine or indigo carmine, is a synthetic blue food colorant belonging to the class of indigoid dyes. It is produced through the chemical sulfonation of indigo and imparts a characteristic blue to blue-green color to food products, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Within the European Union, E132 is an approved food additive regulated under EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives.

Origin and Production

Indigotine is produced synthetically by sulfonation of indigo, a dye that has been known and used for thousands of years as a natural colorant derived from plants. The synthetic form is preferred in modern applications because it ensures consistent quality and reliable coloring properties. Its chemical name is disodium 2,2-[(3,3-dioxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ylidene)(3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ylidene)methyl]dibenzenesulfonate.

Uses in Food and Pharmaceuticals

E132 is used in a wide variety of products, including:

Confectionery and candies
Ice cream and frozen desserts
Beverages and soft drinks
Baked goods and decorative coatings
Pharmaceutical products (as an excipient in tablets and capsules)
Cosmetics and personal care products
Diagnostic applications (e.g., as a contrast agent in kidney function tests)

In medicine, indigotine is also used as a diagnostic aid to assess kidney function and to identify urinary leaks during surgical procedures.

Safety and Health Assessment

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) have classified E132 as generally safe for human consumption. The established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is 5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day.

In sensitive individuals, the following reactions may occasionally occur:

Allergic skin reactions or urticaria (hives)
Nausea at high intake levels
Very rarely, hypersensitivity reactions

Unlike some other azo dyes such as E102 (tartrazine), E132 has not been associated with the so-called Southampton effect -- an increase in hyperactivity in children linked to certain artificial colorants. Nevertheless, health authorities recommend limiting the intake of artificial food dyes in children as a precautionary measure.

Labeling Requirements

In the EU, E132 must be declared in the ingredient list of food products either by its name indigotine or by its E number E132. Unlike certain other artificial colorants, E132 is currently not subject to a mandatory warning label regarding behavioral effects in children.

References

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of indigotine (E 132) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2014.
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA): Indigotine. WHO Food Additives Series, Geneva.
European Union: Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives.

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