日本語
Food additive databasecolorChecked 2026-10-02

Chlorophylline クロロフィリン

Existing food additivePermitted in the EU (E140)
Purpose
color
On the label
“クロロフィリン” (chlorophyllin), “着色料（クロロフィリン）” (coloring (chlorophyllin)), “葉緑素” (leaf green)
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives
クロロフィリン (No. 108)
Source and production
Obtained by hydrolyzing “クロロフィル” (chlorophyll) in a warm alkaline ethanol aqueous solution, neutralizing with dilute hydrochloric acid, and extracting with aqueous ethanol. The main component is magnesium chlorophyllin, and it is green.

In Japan

  • A green coloring obtained by hydrolyzing chlorophyll, the green pigment of plants, with magnesium chlorophyllin as the main component. 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 “クロロフィリン” (chlorophyllin), it becomes “着色料（クロロフィリン）” (coloring (chlorophyllin)). The short name is “葉緑素” (leaf green), shared with chlorophyll. It is a separate item from sodium copper chlorophyllin and sodium iron chlorophyllin, which are designated additives.

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 (ii) chlorophyllins (sodium and potassium salts).

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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