E133Colour
Brilliant blue FCF
What the research shows
Not enough
published research on this page yet
A blue colouring used in food.
It gives foods and other substances a blue colour.1
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- EU permitted
What research says
Animal and lab studies only
-
Benefit
Blood cell oxidation3
In lab studies, brilliant blue FCF reduced some signs of blood cell and plasma oxidation.
Study type not stated
-
Open question
Daily intake limits2
Experts set a new daily intake limit for Brilliant Blue FCF, and some children eating a lot may go over it.
The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.
What expert reviews concluded
Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them. IARC rates whether something can cause cancer at all, not how likely it is at the amounts in food.
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UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 2017
Acceptable daily intake: up to 6 mg per kg of body weight.
-
WHO cancer agency (IARC), 1987
Not enough evidence to say whether it causes cancer in people (Group 3).
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
European Union Permitted EUR-Lex Reg. (EC) 1333/2008
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United Kingdom Permitted FSA retained EU law
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating. A country appears here once we've found this ingredient on its official list.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 21,618 products on Open Food Facts that list brilliant blue fcf.
- Sachet de skittles aux fruits Skittles · 152 g 13 additives
- Chocolate M&M m&m's · 45 g 10 additives
- Fruits Skittles Skittles · 136 g 13 additives
- Batchelors : Mushy Original Batchelors · 300 g 2 additives
- Skittles Wrigley · 45. g 11 additives
- Chewy spicy candies Hot Tamale 10 additives
References
- 1Brilliant blue FCF: ingredient taxonomy entry. Open Food Facts.
- 2EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Brilliant Blue FCF (E 133) as a food additive. EFSA J. 2010;8(11):1853. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1853
- 3Olas B, Kontek B, Witkowska D, Sitek K. Comparative Action of Blue Food Colorants (Genipin, Patent Blue V, and Brilliant Blue FCF); Their Effect on Oxidative Stress in Human Plasma and Blood Platelets In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci. 2026;27(13). doi:10.3390/ijms27136045