E123 · Amaranth

What is E123?

Amaranth is a synthetic dark-red azo dye historically used in foods and beverages. It is banned in foods in the United States (since 1976, over cancer concerns from animal studies that remain disputed) but authorised in very restricted uses in the EU/UK, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand. Regulatory bodies have set an acceptable daily intake, and typical exposure is generally below it.

Also appears on labels as: Amaranth, E123, E 123, E-123, Amaranth dye, Amaranth food color, Amaranth red, FD&C Red No. 2, Food Red 9, C.I. 16185, Synthetic amaranth, Amaranth color additive.

What the evidence says

• ADI established; exposures generally below ADI in refined assessments.
• Hypersensitivity reactions possible in susceptible individuals.
• Banned in US foods since 1976 due to disputed animal carcinogenicity studies; not confirmed as a human risk at approved levels elsewhere.

Research behind the verdict

1. High-dose Amaranth (E123) Toxicity in Rats: Hepatic and Fetal Effects — M. S. Shetty et al., Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine (2011). In a rat study, doses of the food colour Amaranth (E123) equal to and ten times the acceptable daily intake (4.7 and 47 mg/kg bw) were administered to pregnant rats; the higher dose increased alkaline phosphatase and caused skeletal abnormalities in 25% of fetuses, whereas the ADI dose showed no effect on liver/kidney oxidative markers【824244244825915†L220-L243】. Amaranth has been banned in the U.S. since 1976 but remains in use elsewhere【824244244825915†L266-L273】. A long-term study feeding rats 0–1250 mg/kg/day for 111 weeks reported no cancer or reproductive effects but high-dose females developed renal calcification and pelvic hyperplasia, and no safe dose could be identified【375843677752642†L297-L315】.[dangerous]

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