Foods Containing E100 (Curcumin)
E100 (Curcumin) is the natural yellow pigment in turmeric, used to colour foods golden yellow. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E100
E100 is used across sweets, soft drinks, desserts, ice cream, sauces and snacks. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Curries and curry sauces
- Mustard
- Cheese
- Butter and margarine
- Cakes and biscuits
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E100 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E100" or as "Curcumin".
How to spot E100 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "food colourings: E100" or "food colourings: curcumin". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Curcumin" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E100?
E100 is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E100.
Full guide to E100: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).