✅ Safety Verdict: Generally Safe (With Caveats)
E153 (Vegetable Carbon) is approved and generally safe. However, it can interfere with medication absorption and cause black stools. Avoid if you're taking prescription medicines, and be aware that "detox" claims for charcoal foods are not scientifically supported.
⚠️ Medication Warning
Do not consume charcoal foods if taking medication. Vegetable carbon can absorb medicines in your gut, reducing their effectiveness. This includes the contraceptive pill, antidepressants, and many other medications. Wait at least 2 hours between taking medication and consuming charcoal products.
What is E153 (Vegetable Carbon)?
E153 is Vegetable Carbon, essentially food-grade charcoal made from burning plant material.
How it's made:
- Burning plant material (wood, coconut shells, peat) at high temperatures
- Without oxygen – creates pure carbon
- Purified for food use
- Ground into fine powder
Why it's used:
- Creates intense black colour – no other additive does this as well
- Instagram-worthy aesthetic – trendy black foods
- Natural origin – appeals to "natural" food trends
- Stable – doesn't fade or change colour
Where is E153 Found?
Trendy "Charcoal" Foods:
- Black ice cream
- Black burger buns
- Charcoal pizza dough
- Black pasta
- Charcoal lemonade and juices
- Black smoothie bowls
Traditional Products:
- Liquorice – for deep black colour
- Black jelly beans
- Some cheese rinds
- Certain wines and spirits
Non-Food Uses:
- Toothpaste (charcoal whitening claims)
- Face masks and cosmetics
- Medical use – poison/overdose treatment
Health Concerns
1. Medication Interaction (Serious)
This is the main concern with E153:
- Absorbs medications in the digestive tract
- Reduces drug effectiveness – potentially dangerous
- Affects contraceptive pill – could reduce effectiveness
- Affects antidepressants, heart medications, and more
💊 Which Medications Are Affected?
Potentially any oral medication, including:
- Contraceptive pills
- Antidepressants
- Heart medications
- Diabetes medications
- Blood thinners
- Thyroid medications
If you take any regular medication, avoid charcoal foods or consult your doctor.
2. Black Stools (Harmless But Alarming)
- Vegetable carbon causes black bowel movements
- This is harmless – just the carbon passing through
- Problem: Can mask signs of gastrointestinal bleeding
- If you've eaten charcoal recently, tell your doctor if concerned
3. "Detox" Claims (Not Supported)
Many charcoal products are marketed as "detoxifying" – this is misleading:
- Your liver and kidneys already detox your body
- No evidence charcoal food "cleanses" anything
- May absorb nutrients along with "toxins"
- Medical-grade activated charcoal is different from food-grade E153
E153 vs Activated Charcoal
- E153 (Vegetable Carbon): Food colouring, less porous
- Activated Charcoal: Medically processed for maximum absorption
- Both can interfere with medications
- Neither has proven "detox" benefits when eaten in food
Regulatory Status
UK/EU: Approved with no specific ADI (acceptable daily intake)
US: FDA approved for colour use
Note: Banned in the US as a food additive for many years, only recently allowed in some applications
Who Should Avoid E153?
🚫 Avoid:
- Anyone taking medication – can reduce effectiveness
- Pregnant women on supplements/medication
- People with digestive conditions – may worsen nutrient absorption
✅ Generally Fine:
- Occasional consumption by healthy adults not on medication
- As a colour in small amounts
The Bottom Line
- ✅ Safe as a food colour for most people
- 🚫 Avoid if taking medication – serious interaction risk
- ⚠️ Causes black stools – harmless but alarming
- 🚫 "Detox" claims are marketing – not science
- ✅ Natural origin – from plant material
- 💡 Trendy but not necessarily healthy
Our recommendation: E153 is safe for occasional use by healthy people not on medication. However, charcoal foods are more about Instagram aesthetics than health benefits. The medication interaction risk is real – if you take any prescription drugs, it's best to avoid charcoal products entirely.
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Last updated: February 2026