日本語
Food additive databasecolorChecked 2026-10-02

Chlorophyll クロロフィル

Existing food additivePermitted in the EU (E140)
Purpose
color
On the label
“クロロフィル” (chlorophyll), “着色料（クロロフィル）” (coloring (chlorophyll)), “葉緑素” (leaf green)
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives
クロロフィル (No. 109)
Source and production
Obtained from green plants, with chlorophylls as the main component. May contain edible fats and oils.

In Japan

  • A green coloring obtained from green plants, with chlorophylls as the main component (definition in the Japanese Standards of Food Additives). Under the standard for colorings (excluding chemically synthesized products), it cannot be used in kelp, meat, fresh fish and shellfish, tea, laver, beans, vegetables, or wakame seaweed.
  • Because it is a coloring, the purpose name must be shown alongside; written as “クロロフィル” (chlorophyll), it becomes “着色料（クロロフィル）” (coloring (chlorophyll)). The short name is “葉緑素” (leaf green), shared with chlorophyllin. It is a separate item from copper chlorophyll, a designated additive.

Japan's standards for use

  • Standard for colorings (excluding chemically synthesized products): must not be used in kelp (kombu), meat, fresh fish and shellfish (including whale meat), tea, laver (nori), beans, vegetables, or wakame seaweed

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

  • It is on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II) as E140.
  • In the EU, it is listed under E140 as (i) chlorophylls.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.

This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies; it is not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. The ADI is a guide to the amount that is considered safe to take every day over a lifetime.

Other substances used as color

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