What is E153?

E153 (Vegetable carbon) is a colours food additive. Natural black colourant from charred plant material. E153 sits in the E100–E199 series, which in the EU classification mainly covers colours.

What is E153 used for?

E153 belongs to the colours group. Colours are added to give or restore colour to food. Some are natural, like curcumin from turmeric; some synthetic dyes are debated and require warning labels in the EU.

Is E153 safe?

E153 is considered safe at the levels used in food and is approved for use in the EU. “Safe” means it is approved in the EU and regarded as safe at the levels used in food.

How E153 appears on labels

On food packaging you'll find E153 either as the number “E153” or by the name “Vegetable carbon” in the ingredient list, often after its function. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so an additive near the end is present only in small amounts.

Is E153 vegan?

Yes, E153 is suitable for vegans.