Amaranth

Identifiers

INS No. 123
E 123
CAS No. 915-67-3
CI Food Red 9
Naphtol Rot S

Physical Description

Amaranth is a monoazo dye that occurs as reddish brown to dark reddish brown powder or granules. It is principally the trisodium salt of 3-hydroxy-4-(4-sulfonato-1-naphthylazo)-2,7-naphthalenedisulfonate and subsidiary coloring matters together with sodium chloride and/or sodium sulfate as the principal uncolored components. It may be converted to the corresponding aluminum lake.

Common Uses

Amaranth can be used to color a variety of foods and beverages, including confectionery products, desserts, cereals, bakery products, dairy products, sausages, and snack foods.

Specifications

Regulatory Approvals

JECFA: ADI of 0-0.5 mg/kg bw (28th Report, 1984). There are currently 12 food categories for which maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for amaranth (INS No. 123) have been adopted in the General Standard of Food Additives.

USA: Known as FD&C Red No. 2 prior to delisting in 1976.

EU: ADI of 0.15 mg/kg body weight (EFSA, 2010); EFSA has also established MPLs for use of Amaranth in specific foods and beverages in Europe

Safety Reviews

WHO Food Additive Series 19-JECFA 28/3. Available online

EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS); Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Amaranth (E 123) as a food additive on request from the European Commission. EFSA Journal 2010;8(7):1649. [41 pp.]. Available online