日本語
Food additive databasecolorChecked 2026-10-02

Haematococcus Algae Color ヘマトコッカス藻色素

Existing food additiveNot on the EU additive list
Purpose
color
On the label
“ヘマトコッカス藻色素” (haematococcus algae color), “カロテノイド色素” (carotenoid color), “カロチノイド色素” (carotenoid color, alternative spelling), “着色料（カロチノイド）” (colorant (carotenoid))
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives
ヘマトコッカス藻色素 (No. 268)
Source and production
Obtained from whole Haematococcus algae, with astaxanthins as the main component. It may contain edible fats and oils (specifications).

In Japan

  • Its purpose in the List of Existing Food Additives is colorant. The short names are カロチノイド, カロチノイド色素, カロテノイド, and カロテノイド色素 (all meaning carotenoid or carotenoid color); under any name other than the item name, it cannot be told apart from other carotenoid-based pigments.
  • When written with the character “色” (color), as in “ヘマトコッカス藻色素” or “カロテノイド色素”, the purpose name “着色料” (colorant) can be omitted.
  • A standard for use common to natural colorants applies: it cannot be used in kelp (konbu), meat, fresh fish and shellfish, tea, nori seaweed, beans, vegetables, or wakame seaweed.

Japan's standards for use

  • Must not be used in kelp (konbu), meat, fresh fish and shellfish (including whale meat), tea, nori seaweed, beans, vegetables, or wakame seaweed (standard for use for colorants excluding chemically synthesized products)

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

In the EU

  • It is not on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II), so it cannot be used as a food additive in the EU.
  • Astaxanthin is not on the EU additive list (colorants). Extracts rich in astaxanthin obtained from Haematococcus algae can be used in food supplements as a novel food (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283).
  • In 2020 the EFSA Panel on Nutrition (NDA) set an ADI for astaxanthin of 0.2 mg per kg of body weight per day (this was not an evaluation as a food additive).

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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