Learn Glossary colorant

Amaranth(E123)

Level 5High concernIn Winter's Dictionary

Amaranth is a colorant — Red coloring (banned in US)

Also: Red No. 2

What it does

Red coloring (banned in US)

Where you'll see it

Previously food coloring

What the research says

Banned by the FDA in 1976.

Regulatory status

  • US FDA: BAN
  • Notes: Banned by FDA in 1976 and reaffirmed in 1980

Sources

  • A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): Red No. 2, banned by the FDA in 1976 and reaffirmed in 1980