Food additive databasecolorChecked 2026-10-02

Copper Chlorophyll 銅クロロフィル

Designated additivePermitted in the EU (E141(i))

Purpose: color
On the label: “着色料（銅クロロフィル）” (coloring (copper chlorophyll)), “着色料（銅葉緑素）” (coloring (copper chlorophyll))
Name in the List of Designated Additives: 銅クロロフィル (No. 276)

In Japan

A green coloring. Under the standards for use, the foods it can be used in are limited to kelp, stored vegetables and fruits, chewing gum, fish paste products, fresh confectionery, chocolate, and the agar in mitsumame, with upper limits set as the amount of copper.
Because it is a coloring, the purpose name is shown alongside, as in “着色料（銅クロロフィル）” (coloring (copper chlorophyll)). The short name is “銅葉緑素” (copper chlorophyll) (the same short name as for sodium copper chlorophyllin).

Japan's standards for use

Specified as the amount of copper
Kelp (kombu) (anhydrous): 0.15 g/kg
Stored vegetables or fruits: 0.10 g/kg
Chewing gum: 0.050 g/kg
Fish paste products (excluding minced fish meat): 0.030 g/kg
Fresh confectionery (excluding sweet buns): 0.0064 g/kg
Chocolate: 0.0010 g/kg
Agar in canned mitsumame or in mitsumame packed in synthetic resin containers: 0.0004 g/kg

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 E141(i).

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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