Is e123 the same as Amaranth?

Yes — e123 and Amaranth refer to the same ingredient in our catalogue.

Is fd&c red 2 the same as Amaranth?

Yes — fd&c red 2 and Amaranth refer to the same ingredient in our catalogue.

Is food red 9 the same as Amaranth?

Yes — food red 9 and Amaranth refer to the same ingredient in our catalogue.

Is amaranth dye the same as Amaranth?

Yes — amaranth dye and Amaranth refer to the same ingredient in our catalogue.

Amaranth (E123) — what it is & is it safe?

What is Amaranth?

Red azo dye banned in the USA since 1976 (FDA, based on 1970s animal studies). EFSA's 2010 re-evaluation found it not genotoxic or carcinogenic; still permitted in the EU only in aperitif drinks and fish roe at a lowered ADI.

Is Amaranth safe?

Amaranth is a high health concern. Consider limiting products that contain it.

Score impact: −15 points on the FoodsScan score (FoodsScan scores run 0–100, where 100 is best.)

Found in 5 of 9,912 analysed products in the FoodsScan database.

Regulatory sources: FDA (banned), EFSA

Also known as

Amaranth is also known as e123, fd&c red 2, food red 9, amaranth dye — these all refer to the same ingredient.

amaranth dye e123 fd&c red 2 food red 9

Related additives

Salt (Sodium Chloride) Rice wheat sunflower oil corn starch Sugar (Sucrose) Soy Lecithin Flaxseed Chia Seeds Sesame Seeds Curcumin (E100) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) (E101) Tartrazine (E102) Quinoline Yellow (E104) Sunset Yellow FCF (E110) Carmine (Cochineal extract) (E120)

Products containing Amaranth

Baklava With Pistachio 5200109450156

Rice cakes 3800233091199

RICE CAKES SLIM MIX SEEDS 8606018701209

Brown rice cakes 3800233070071

Hogareñas 6 semiñle 7790040402171