Foods Containing E153 (Vegetable Carbon)
E153 (Vegetable Carbon) is made from carbonised plant material such as coconut shells or wood, used as a food colouring to help add or restore colour to foods and drinks. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E153
E153 is used across sweets, soft drinks, desserts, ice cream, sauces and snacks. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Sweets
- Soft drinks
- Desserts
- Ice cream
- Sauces and snacks
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E153 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E153" or as "Vegetable Carbon".
How to spot E153 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: E153" or "food colourings: vegetable carbon". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Vegetable Carbon" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E153?
E153 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 E153.
Full guide to E153: 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).