Foods Containing E123 (Amaranth)
E123 (Amaranth) is a synthetic red dye banned in the United States since 1976 but still permitted in limited uses in the EU. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E123
E123 is used across sweets, soft drinks, desserts, ice cream, sauces and snacks. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Caviar and fish roe (EU)
- Some aperitif drinks
- Historically: sweets and drinks
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E123 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E123" or as "Amaranth".
How to spot E123 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: E123" or "food colourings: amaranth". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Amaranth" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E123?
E123 is banned or restricted in one or more major markets. Different regulators have reviewed the evidence and reached different conclusions, so its status depends on where you live — always check the position in your own country. Amaranth was banned in the USA in 1976 following cancer concerns in animal studies, making it one of the most famous banned food dyes in the world.
Full guide to E123: 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).