Food additive databasecolorChecked 2026-10-02

Iron Sesquioxide (Diiron Trioxide or Iron Oxide Red) 三二酸化鉄（別名三酸化二鉄又はベンガラ）

Designated additivePermitted in the EU (E172)

Purpose: color
On the label: “着色料（三二酸化鉄）” (coloring (iron sesquioxide)), “着色料（酸化鉄）” (coloring (iron oxide)), “着色料（ベンガラ）” (coloring (bengara))
Name in the List of Designated Additives: 三二酸化鉄（別名三酸化二鉄又はベンガラ） (No. 176)

In Japan

An oxide of iron, a reddish-brown coloring.
Under the standards for use, it may be used only on the stalk portion of bananas and in konjac.
Because colorings are a purpose for which the purpose name must be written alongside, it is written as “着色料（三二酸化鉄）” (coloring (iron sesquioxide)). Its short name is “酸化鉄” (iron oxide).

Japan's standards for use

May be used only in bananas (stalk portion only) and konjac

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 E172.
In the EU, it falls under E172 (iron oxides and hydroxides), in the group of colorings that may be used without a set upper limit on amount (Annex II, Part C, Group II)

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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