What E122 actually is
Carmoisine is a red azo dye used where a deep berry red is wanted. It is one of the clearest cases of regulators reaching different conclusions from similar evidence: it is legal across the EU and UK with a warning label, and it is not approved for food use in the United States at all.
What it is made from
Synthesised from petrochemical feedstock, with no plant or animal input.
Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status
Fully synthetic, so it suits vegan, vegetarian, halal, and kosher diets. Shoppers avoiding carmine (E120) on religious or ethical grounds sometimes find carmoisine used instead in European products.
Is E122 safe?
Carmoisine is one of the Southampton Six, so EU and UK packs containing it must warn that it may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. EFSA set an acceptable daily intake of 4 mg per kg of body weight per day. It has never been approved as a food colour in the United States, which is why the same branded product can look different on either side of the Atlantic.
- Mandatory EU and UK warning about activity and attention in children
- Not permitted as a food colour in the United States
- Intolerance reported in a small number of people, particularly with aspirin sensitivity
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Acceptable daily intake of 4 mg per kg of body weight per day. Mandatory activity and attention warning.
- FDA (US)
- Not approved as a colour additive for food use.
Foods it turns up in
- Sweets, jelly, and desserts
- Jams and fruit preparations
- Flavoured yoghurt and dairy desserts
- Soft drinks and squash
Names it hides behind
- E122
- Carmoisine
- Azorubine
- Food Red 3
- Colour (E122)
Common questions
- Is carmoisine banned in the US?
- It has never been approved there as a food colour, which is a slightly different thing from being banned. Either way it cannot legally be used in US food.
- Is carmoisine the same as carmine?
- No, and the similar names cause real confusion. Carmine (E120) comes from insects. Carmoisine (E122) is entirely synthetic and is vegan.
- Why does carmoisine carry a warning in the EU?
- It is one of the six colours from the 2007 Southampton study, so any product containing it must state that it may affect activity and attention in children.
- Is carmoisine halal?
- Yes. It is synthetic with no animal-derived input, unlike carmine.
- Why do EU and US versions of a sweet look different?
- Partly because carmoisine is permitted in the EU and not in the US, so American versions use a different red, usually Allura Red.
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.