E133 / Colours
Brilliant Blue FCF
Safety in brief
Safe in moderation
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- Recorded sensitivities: dye sensitivity.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Brilliant Blue FCF (FD&C Blue No. 1) is a synthetic bright blue dye used in beverages, candies, ice cream, medicines, and cosmetics. It is approved in many countries with maximum permitted levels and is considered one of the better-tolerated synthetic dyes; rare hypersensitivity reactions have been reported, mostly in medical rather than dietary contexts.
Also appears on labels as: Brilliant Blue FCF, FD&C Blue 1, Blue 1, E133, E 133, E-133, INS 133, Brilliant Blue FCF food color, Synthetic Blue 1, Brilliant Blue FCF dye, Additivo alimentare E133, Additif alimentaire E133.
What is E133, and is Brilliant Blue FCF the same as Blue 1?
E133 identifies Brilliant Blue FCF, a blue food colour listed in the FSA guide. FDA information pairs Brilliant Blue FCF with the certified US name FD&C Blue No. 1. The names help identify the colour across different food-label formats.
E133 is different from E132, which the FSA names indigotine or indigo carmine and the FDA pairs with FD&C Blue No. 2. Compare the exact code and full name on the label. Colouring changes the food’s appearance; the ingredient name does not reveal its amount or establish a health benefit.
These identity matches do not establish a particular batch’s FDA certification or unrestricted permission in every food or country. Market-specific food uses, specifications and certification require their own checks.
- FSA additive names and E numbers (June 25, 2026)
- FDA: food-colour functions, common names and batch certification
- FDA: certified colour names on food ingredient labels
See how EatMatrix reads an ingredient list before trying the app. Compare a scan with the physical label.
Identity and food-use sources checked . The E number alone does not tell you the amount in a product. Wider scientific and market checks are described below.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- Caution
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Selected research on E133
How to read study types- Regulator reviewEFSA re-evaluation of Brilliant Blue FCF
Lowered the safe daily limit to 6 mg per kg of body weight. Refined intake estimates are below it.
Summaries of each source's published abstract or statement, checked . This is a selection of sources, not a complete literature review. Authority assessments apply to the uses and places they cover.
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Rare hypersensitivity reactions in susceptible individuals.
- Adverse events mainly reported with medical (parenteral/diagnostic) use rather than typical dietary exposure.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Food Safety and Health Concerns of Synthetic Food Colors: An Update — Petra Amchová; Filip Siska; Jana Ruda-Kučerová, Toxics (2024). Narrative review of synthetic food colors. For Brilliant Blue FCF (E133), EFSA (2010) and JECFA (2017) ADI remain 0–6 mg/kg bw/day; JECFA judged exposure not of health concern. The review cites in-vitro work showing sperm DNA damage only at very high concentrations and rodent studies with immune modulation after repeated dosing; these do not alter the ADI.[safe_in_moderation]
- Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of Brilliant Blue FCF (E 133) as a food additive — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2010). Official EFSA scientific opinion (bibliographic reference, imported 2026-10-13). It covers the additive as a group assessment and is not an individual human study; read the opinion for its findings.
Country rules
Country checks for E133
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E133: Brilliant Blue FCF. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E133 (Brilliant Blue FCF) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. Only the named records and conditions below were located. Exact composition and specifications still need matching. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 10 listed food-use conditionsBrilliant Blue FCF Footnote *Health Canada: List of Permitted Food Colours. List published ; item B.2.
Official list footnote: * This food colour is a synthetic colour as defined in section B.16.001 of the Food and Drug Regulations . For the purposes of section B.16.012 of the Food and Drug Regulations , the synthetic colours identified in the list above are water soluble with the exception of citrus red No. 2. Return to footnote * referrer EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Selected research
- 1 source summaries, with publication dates and study types. Several publications may describe the same study population.
- Official assessment sources
- Commission-listed EFSA references for E133. Bibliographic identity checked; latest findings and current use rules need separate review.
- Original ingredient record
- 2 research links; newest recorded date: . Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Safe in moderation |
| WHO | Safe in moderation |
| EFSA | Safe in moderation |
| FSANZ | Safe in moderation |
| Japan | Safe in moderation |
| UK FSA | Safe in moderation |
| Health Canada | Safe in moderation |
Official assessment sources for E133
The European Commission’s re-evaluation table lists official EFSA documents for this additive. Their identifiers and subjects were checked against publisher bibliographic records. A missing research link in the EatMatrix database does not mean the additive has never been assessed.
Name in the Commission table: Brilliant Blue FCF.
- Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of Brilliant Blue FCF (E 133) as a food additive
EFSA scientific opinion. Published: .
These are assessment references, including historical or group assessments. They do not establish the latest scientific conclusion, a human health benefit or risk, or current permission to use the additive in a particular food. Later assessments, corrections and food-use conditions need separate review. The recorded EatMatrix rating above is unchanged.
European Commission re-evaluation table, status as of . EatMatrix checked this bibliography on .
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E133?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E133 (Brilliant Blue FCF) is “Safe in moderation”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E133 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Brilliant Blue FCF — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E133 and why is it used?
Brilliant Blue FCF (FD&C Blue No. 1) is a synthetic bright blue dye used in beverages, candies, ice cream, medicines, and cosmetics. It is approved in many countries with maximum permitted levels and is considered one of the better-tolerated synthetic dyes; rare hypersensitivity reactions have been reported, mostly in medical rather than dietary contexts.
Does E133 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Brilliant Blue FCF, with a caution: dye sensitivity.
Is E133 the same colour as Blue 1?
E133 identifies Brilliant Blue FCF. The FDA pairs Brilliant Blue FCF with the US certified-colour name FD&C Blue No. 1. This is an identity match, not proof that an individual batch or product meets FDA certification and food-use requirements.
Are E132 and E133 the same blue colour?
No. E132 is indigotine, also called indigo carmine, corresponding to FD&C Blue No. 2. E133 is Brilliant Blue FCF, corresponding to FD&C Blue No. 1. Match the full name and exact code on the actual ingredient list.
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.