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E133Colour

Brilliant blue FCF

What the research shows

Prototype

Not enough

published research on this page yet

1 health finding on this page so far · See the findings

A blue colouring used in food.

It gives foods and other substances a blue colour.

Written from Open Food Facts taxonomy1

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • EU permitted

What research says

Animal and lab studies only

  • Benefit

    Blood clotting and heart health3

    In lab studies, brilliant blue FCF reduced fat damage in blood plasma and platelets, but the authors say more testing is needed.

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 two findings in people. 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.

Regulatory status

Checked Sep 2026

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 check

Products

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

  1. 1Brilliant blue FCF: ingredient taxonomy entry. Open Food Facts.
  2. 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
  3. 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