What E100 actually is
Curcumin is the pigment that makes turmeric yellow, concentrated and purified for use as a colour. It gives mustard, some cheeses, and margarine their colour, and it has grown as manufacturers reformulate away from tartrazine to avoid the children's activity and attention warning.
What it is made from
Solvent extraction from the dried rhizome of the turmeric plant, then purified. It is entirely plant-derived.
Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status
Curcumin is plant-derived and suits every dietary requirement. The one point of note is that the extraction uses solvents, and where an emulsifier is added to make it disperse in water, that carrier ingredient carries its own source question.
Is E100 safe?
Approved in the EU, UK, and US. EFSA set an acceptable daily intake of 3 mg per kg of body weight per day when it re-evaluated curcumin in 2010, and noted that high consumers, particularly children, could approach it. It is poorly absorbed when eaten, which is why supplement makers pair it with piperine from black pepper to increase uptake. Colour use in food involves far smaller amounts than any supplement.
- Poorly absorbed from food, which limits systemic effects
- EFSA noted high-level consumers, particularly children, may approach the intake limit
- Very high supplement doses have been associated with digestive upset and rare liver reactions, which does not apply to colour use
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Re-evaluated in 2010. Acceptable daily intake of 3 mg per kg of body weight per day.
- FDA (US)
- Turmeric and turmeric oleoresin are exempt from certification as colour additives.
Foods it turns up in
- Mustard and pickles
- Margarine and fat spreads
- Cheese and dairy products
- Soft drinks and confectionery
- Savoury rice and sauce mixes
Names it hides behind
- E100
- Curcumin
- Turmeric extract
- Colour (E100)
Common questions
- Is E100 natural?
- Yes. It is extracted from turmeric root, and it is one of the natural colours manufacturers use when reformulating away from synthetic yellows.
- Is curcumin vegan and halal?
- Yes, it is plant-derived. Where a carrier emulsifier is added to make it water-dispersible, that carrier is worth a separate check.
- Does E100 have the health benefits of turmeric?
- The amounts used as a colour are small, and curcumin is poorly absorbed from food. Supplement research uses far higher doses with absorption enhancers.
- Does curcumin replace tartrazine?
- Often, yes. It gives a similar yellow without triggering the EU children's activity and attention warning that E102 requires.
- Does curcumin stain?
- Strongly. It is the reason turmeric marks worktops and clothing, and the same applies to the extracted colour.
Checking a real pack
This page answers the code. The pack in your hand is what decides, because the same code can come from different sources depending on the manufacturer. LabelWise, formerly SafeChoice, scans the label and explains what is in front of you.
LabelWise content is educational and describes how additives are made, regulated, and labelled. It is not medical, dietary, or religious advice. For certification questions, the mark on the pack and the certifying body are the authority.