E141 is copper chlorophyllin — a green food colour made by extracting chlorophyll from plants (grass, nettles, alfalfa) and replacing the central magnesium atom with copper to produce a brighter, more stable green pigment than the parent chlorophyll (E140).

Where will I see E141 on a UK label?

E141 appears in mints, chewing gum, green-coloured sweets, mint and pistachio ice creams, some green sauces and soups, and supplements marketed as 'chlorophyllin'. UK labels show it as E141, copper chlorophyllin, copper chlorophyll complex or 'colour (chlorophyllin)'.

Is E141 plant-derived?

Yes — the chlorophyll is extracted from plant sources (most commonly alfalfa, grass and nettles). The copper-modification step is chemical processing, but the colour itself is plant-derived, so E141 is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets.

E141

E141 — Copper Chlorophyllin

Last reviewed: 11 May 2026

Plant-derived green colour, modified with copper for stability.

On a UK label

E141 is copper chlorophyllin — a green colour produced by extracting chlorophyll from plants (grass, nettles, alfalfa) and substituting the central magnesium atom with copper. The result is a brighter, more heat- and pH-stable green than the parent chlorophyll (E140). EFSA's re-evaluation set a group ADI of 15mg/kg body weight per day and did not flag major toxicological concerns at the food-additive range. It is plant-derived and vegetarian/vegan-suitable.

What it is

Chlorophyll is the green pigment that lets plants photosynthesise. In its native form (E140) it is fragile — it fades in acid, breaks down with heat, and turns olive-brown over time, which makes it unreliable for industrial food use. To produce E141, manufacturers extract chlorophyll from alfalfa, grass and nettle leaves, and chemically swap the magnesium atom at the centre of the porphyrin ring for a copper atom. The copper-substituted molecule keeps the same green colour but is dramatically more stable under processing, storage and acidic conditions. The result on a label is called copper chlorophyllin, copper chlorophyll complex, or its E-number.

Two specifications exist in UK food law: E141(i) copper complexes of chlorophylls (oil-soluble) and E141(ii) copper complexes of chlorophyllins (water-soluble). Both deliver the same green colour, and both are typically listed simply as "E141" on a UK ingredients panel.

Where you'll see it on a UK label

Copper chlorophyllin shows up wherever a green colour needs to survive heat or acid:

Mints, chewing gum and breath fresheners
Green-coloured boiled sweets, jellies and gums
Mint and pistachio ice creams and sauces
Pesto-style sauces and green pasta sauces (some brands)
Matcha-flavoured baked goods and desserts (to boost a pale natural green)
Tinned mushy peas and some processed peas
Liqueurs and green soft drinks
"Chlorophyllin" supplements marketed for breath, body-odour or "detox" claims (those claims are largely unsupported)

On the label it may appear as E141, copper chlorophyllin, copper chlorophyll complex, CI 75810 (the Colour Index reference), or colour (chlorophyllin). All refer to the same additive.

What the science shows

EFSA re-evaluation

EFSA reviewed E141 as part of the rolling food-colour reassessment programme and set a group ADI of 15mg/kg body weight per day for the copper-chlorophyll family. Genotoxicity testing was negative and no carcinogenicity signal was identified at intakes relevant to food-additive use. The opinion did not flag major concerns at the levels permitted in UK and EU food.

The copper question

Copper is an essential trace mineral — UK adults need around 1.2mg/day. The contribution from E141 in a typical diet is small relative to the copper present in nuts, shellfish, offal, dark chocolate and pulses. EFSA's tolerable upper intake for copper is 5mg/day for adults; copper exposure from E141 at permitted use levels sits well below this ceiling for the general population. The exception worth naming: people with Wilson's disease (a genetic disorder of copper handling) are advised to minimise dietary copper from all sources and should treat E141 like any other added-copper ingredient — included in their total daily copper count.

Not on the Southampton dye list

The "Southampton Six" — sunset yellow (E110), tartrazine (E102), quinoline yellow (E104), allura red (E129), carmoisine (E122) and ponceau 4R (E124) — carry the FSA's "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children" warning under retained UK food information law. E141 is not in that group and does not carry the warning.

Reading a UK label

If you are specifically watching dietary copper for medical reasons (Wilson's disease, for instance), look in the ingredients list for E141, copper chlorophyllin, copper chlorophyll complex, CI 75810, or any "colour (chlorophyllin)" wording. Mint-flavoured confectionery and green-coloured ice creams are the highest-yield categories to check. For most other readers, presence of E141 on a label is a marker that the manufacturer chose a plant-derived green over an azo-dye alternative; that's a decision worth knowing when scanning a pack.

Regulatory status

UK and EU: authorised under E141 with a group ADI of 15mg/kg body weight per day, listed in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.

United States: authorised for restricted uses (citrus skins, some confectionery applications), under the name "chlorophyllin-copper complex".

Allergen-labelling: not a UK mandatory allergen — no bold-type emphasis required.

Spot E141 on every UK barcode

Scan any UK pack in NutraSafe and we surface every E-number — including copper chlorophyllin — so you can see at a glance which colours a product uses.

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Last updated: 11 May 2026