What E133 actually is
Brilliant Blue is the blue in ice pops, sweets, and mouthwash, and mixed with tartrazine it makes the green in tinned peas and mint products. It is intensely strong, so tiny quantities do the job.
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.
Is E133 safe?
Brilliant Blue is permitted in the EU, UK, and US. EFSA re-evaluated it in 2010 and set an acceptable daily intake of 6 mg per kg of body weight per day. It is worth being clear about one thing: it is not one of the Southampton Six, so it does not carry the EU children's activity and attention warning. It is poorly absorbed, and most of it passes through unchanged, which is why large intakes can visibly tint stool.
- Poorly absorbed and largely excreted unchanged
- Large amounts can visibly tint stool, which is harmless
- Not one of the Southampton Six and carries no children's warning
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Re-evaluated in 2010. Acceptable daily intake of 6 mg per kg of body weight per day.
- FDA (US)
- Certified colour additive, listed as FD&C Blue No. 1.
Foods it turns up in
- Ice pops, slushes, and sweets
- Tinned peas and mint products, blended with yellow to make green
- Icing and cake decoration
- Mouthwash and toothpaste
Names it hides behind
- E133
- Brilliant Blue FCF
- Blue 1
- FD&C Blue No. 1
- Colour (E133)
Common questions
- Does Brilliant Blue carry the hyperactivity warning?
- No. It is not one of the six colours from the Southampton study, so no warning is required on EU or UK packs containing it.
- Is Blue 1 the same as E133?
- Yes. Blue 1 is the US name and E133 the European code for the same dye.
- Is Brilliant Blue vegan and halal?
- Yes. It is entirely synthetic with no animal-derived input.
- Why is it in tinned peas?
- Blended with a yellow colour it produces green, restoring the colour peas lose during canning.
- Can it change the colour of stool?
- Yes, at high intakes, because most of it passes through unabsorbed. It is harmless.
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.