What is it?
Carmoisine, also called Azorubine, is a man-made red dye made from petroleum-based chemicals. It is an azo dye, the same family as the other Southampton Six colours, and it gives a deep red to burgundy colour.
Carmoisine
also: Azorubine · Food Red 3 · Acid Red 14 · CI 14720
A synthetic red food dye used to colour sweets, jellies and drinks. One of the six artificial colours linked to hyperactivity in children, requiring a mandatory warning label by UK and EU law.
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Sugar, Corn Syrup, Water, Pectin, Corn Starch, Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid, Flavorings: Blackberry, Raspberry, Colors: E122, E129, E153
E122
Carmoisine
By law, products containing E122 must say it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children".
VeganVegetarian
How common it is in UK food
UK supermarket foods that declare E122: 25 of the 43,325 we checked (under 0.1%)
Counted by its code or its name in the ingredient list.
Counted by NutraSafe from UK supermarket ingredient lists, September 2026. How we counted
What carmoisine is, what it does and where you will see it
Why it’s worth knowing. By law, products containing E122 must say it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". People who are sensitive to aspirin or salicylates may be more likely to get reactions such as hives.
What does it do?
It turns food a vivid crimson red. It holds its colour through heat and acid, so it survives cooking and fermenting.
Where you will see it
Jelly, blancmange, marzipan, Swiss roll, packet cheesecake mixes, brown sauce, jams, flavoured yoghurts, packet soups, sweets and some soft drinks. UK labels call it Carmoisine, Azorubine or E122.
What the science says
Linked to more hyperactivity in children, as part of a mixture
A trial paid for by the UK Food Standards Agency gave children two different mixtures of six artificial colours, each including E122, with the preservative sodium benzoate. Children aged 3 and 8 to 9 scored higher for hyperactivity than on a dummy drink. The results were not the same across both ages and both mixtures, and because it tested mixtures, no effect can be put down to E122 alone. European reviewers said in 2008 the evidence was limited. They kept the daily limit but could not rule out a small effect in some children.
In 153 three-year-olds and 144 children aged 8 to 9, two mixtures of artificial colours, both including E122, plus sodium benzoate, were linked to higher hyperactivity scores than a dummy drink. The effects were not consistent across ages and mixtures.
2007Randomised trial in peopleMcCann D et al., The Lancet, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61306-3
Reviewers said the study gave limited evidence of a small effect on activity and attention in some children.
2008Regulator reviewEFSA Journal, Assessment of the results of the study by McCann et al. (2007), doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2008.660
Since July 2010 all food and drink containing E122 must carry the warning "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children".
2010LawEU Regulation 1333/2008 Annex V; UK FSA approved-additives list
A possible risk for people sensitive to aspirin
As an azo dye, E122 is linked in research to possible reactions in people sensitive to aspirin or salicylates. These would look like allergy but are not true allergy.
Reviewers noted that azo dyes as a group are linked to allergy-like reactions in people who cannot tolerate aspirin.
2009Regulator reviewEFSA Scientific Opinion on re-evaluation of Azorubine/Carmoisine (E 122), EFSA Journal, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1332
Liver and kidney damage in rodents at high doses
Studies in rats and mice found that high doses of carmoisine raised liver and kidney markers and damaged those organs. In a 2019 mouse study, 200 and 400mg per kg of body weight a day for 120 days damaged the liver and kidneys, changed blood counts and switched off genes that normally help damaged cells die. A dose equal to the daily limit, 4mg per kg, did none of this. European reviewers in 2009 kept the daily limit.
Young male rats given carmoisine by mouth for 30 days had raised liver enzymes and kidney markers and weaker antioxidant defences, more so at higher doses.
2010Animal studyAmin KA, Abdel Hameid H, Abd Elsttar AH, Food and Chemical Toxicology, vol. 48(10), pp. 2994-2999, doi:10.1016/j.fct.2010.07.031
Mice given 200 or 400mg per kg of body weight a day for 120 days had significant liver and kidney damage and anaemia, with genes that block cell death switched up and the tumour-suppressing gene p53 switched down in the liver.
2019Animal studyReza et al., Food Science and Nutrition, PMC6392843, doi:10.1002/fsn3.906
Reviewers kept the daily limit of 4mg per kg of body weight.
2009Regulator reviewEFSA Scientific Opinion on re-evaluation of Azorubine/Carmoisine (E 122), EFSA Journal, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1332
In human white blood cells in a dish, carmoisine caused chromosome damage at the highest concentration tested, 300 micrograms per ml, but not at lower ones. The researchers called for studies in living animals.
2025Lab study on cellsToxicology Research, Oxford Academic, doi:10.1093/toxres/tfaf033
Children could go over the daily limit if foods held the legal maximum
In 2009 European reviewers found that children aged 1 to 10 with the highest intakes could go over the daily limit of 4mg per kg of body weight if foods contained the most the law allows. The worst case, with every food at the legal maximum, still put the heaviest-eating toddlers and children over it.
Children aged 1 to 10 with the highest intakes could go over the daily limit of 4mg per kg of body weight, whether estimated from legal maximums or from makers' reported use.
2009Regulator reviewEFSA Scientific Opinion on re-evaluation of Azorubine/Carmoisine (E 122), EFSA Journal, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1332
With every food at the legal maximum, toddlers and children with high intakes still went over it.
2015Regulator reviewEFSA, Refined exposure assessment for Azorubine/Carmoisine (E 122), EFSA Journal, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4072
Where it stands with the regulators
Approved in the UK and the EU, with a compulsory hyperactivity warning
Daily limit. 4mg per kg of body weight a day, about 280mg for a 70kg adult (set 1983 and 1984, confirmed by European reviewers 2009).
- Legal basis
- On the Food Standards Agency's approved list for Great Britain. The warning is required by the UK's retained additive law.
- Permitted foods
- Jelly · Blancmange · Marzipan · Brown sauce and similar sauces · Jams · Flavoured yoghurts · Packet soups · Sweets · Cheesecake mixes · Breadcrumbs · Soft drinks, with conditions
- Maximum levels
- 50mg per kg (or per litre), shared with E110, E124 and E155, in flavoured soft drinks, ices, desserts, cakes and sweets. 100mg per kg in jams, jellies and marmalades. 100mg per litre in some flavoured wine drinks.
- History
- The Food Standards Agency paid for the 2007 Southampton study, which linked colour mixtures including E122 to more hyperactivity in children. In 2008 the agency asked makers to stop using the six colours, and many UK makers changed their recipes. From July 2010 the children's warning became compulsory. European reviewers re-checked E122 in 2009 and kept its daily limit. It has never been allowed in US food, is not on Canada's list of permitted colours, and is not approved in Japan.
Who should be careful
Children: any product with E122 must carry the warning "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". Parents who want to limit it should check for Carmoisine, Azorubine or E122. People who cannot tolerate aspirin or salicylates may want to avoid azo dyes as a group. Carmoisine is one of the Southampton Six, the colours that warning was written for.
The honest read
The hyperactivity link has been argued over since it appeared. The Southampton study tested mixtures of colours, so no finding can be pinned on E122 alone, and European reviewers twice declined to change its daily limit. Most big UK makers dropped these colours after 2008. It still turns up in some imported sweets and a few UK products.
The liver and kidney damage came from studies in rodents. Whether it affects children's behaviour is still not settled.
Common questions about carmoisine
Is E122 banned in the UK?
No. E122 is an approved additive in the UK, but it must carry the warning "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". It has never been allowed in US food, is not on Canada's list of permitted colours, and is not approved in Japan.
Is E122 one of the Southampton Six?
Yes. Carmoisine is one of the six artificial colours tested in the 2007 University of Southampton study paid for by the Food Standards Agency. The others are tartrazine (E102), Quinoline Yellow (E104), Sunset Yellow (E110), Ponceau 4R (E124) and Allura Red (E129). All six need the children's warning label, and E122 was in both mixtures the study tested.
Is E122 harmful?
It is approved, with a daily limit of 4mg per kg of body weight and a legal children's behaviour warning. The trial behind the warning tested mixtures, so its effect cannot be pinned on E122 alone. Liver and kidney damage appeared in rodents given very high doses. Children with very high intakes could go over the limit if every food held the legal maximum.
What foods contain E122?
Jelly, blancmange, marzipan, Swiss roll, brown sauce, jams, flavoured yoghurts, packet soups, sweets and some soft drinks. Labels call it Carmoisine, Azorubine or E122. Many UK brands dropped it after 2008, and it is now more often in imported products.
Is E122 vegan?
Yes. Carmoisine is entirely man-made from petroleum-based chemicals. It contains nothing from animals, plants or microbes.
Sources
- FSA Authorised Regulated Food and Feed Products for Great Britain: E-122
- FSA Approved additives and E numbers
- McCann D et al. Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet (2007)
- EFSA Assessment of the results of the study by McCann et al. (2007) on the effect of some colours and sodium benzoate on children's behaviour. EFSA Journal (2008)
- EFSA Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Azorubine/Carmoisine (E 122) as a food additive. EFSA Journal (2009)
- EFSA Scientific Opinion on the appropriateness of food azo-colours including E 122 for inclusion in Annex IIIa of Directive 2000/13/EC. EFSA Journal (2010)
- EFSA Refined exposure assessment for Azorubine/Carmoisine (E 122). EFSA Journal (2015)
- EFSA Refined exposure assessment for Azorubine/Carmoisine (E 122) - PMC full text
- EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 Annex V - Warning labels for food colours
- McCann et al. (2007) study overview - PMC
- EFSA updates safety advice on six food colours (2009 press release)
- EFSA evaluates Southampton study on food additives and child behaviour
- Amin KA, Abdel Hameid H, Abd Elsttar AH. Effect of food azo dyes tartrazine and carmoisine on biochemical parameters related to renal, hepatic function and oxidative stress biomarkers in young male rats. Food and Chemical Toxicology (2010)
- International Association of Color Manufacturers: Azorubine
- Reza et al. Study of a common azo food dye in mice model: Toxicity reports and its relation to carcinogenicity. Food Science and Nutrition (2019)
- Toxicology Research (Oxford Academic) - Do the azo food colorings carmoisine and ponceau 4R have a genotoxic potential? (2025)
- UK Colours in Food Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/3124)
- Japan Food Chemical Research Foundation - List of Designated Additives (March 2024)
Last reviewed: 9 November 2026
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