Food additive databasecolorChecked 2026-10-02

Purple Sweet Potato Color ムラサキイモ色素

Existing food additivePermitted in the EU (E163)

Purpose: color
On the label: “ムラサキイモ色素” (purple sweet potato color), “アントシアニン色素” (anthocyanin color), “野菜色素” (vegetable color), “着色料（アントシアニン）” (colorant (anthocyanin))
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives: ムラサキイモ色素 (No. 288)
Source and production: Obtained from the tuberous roots of sweet potato, with cyanidin acylglucoside and peonidin acylglucoside as the main components. Source, manufacturing method, and essence follow the specifications in the Japanese Standards for Food Additives.

In Japan

A colorant obtained from the tuberous roots of sweet potato, with anthocyanin-type pigments as its main component.
Colorants are a purpose for which the purpose name must be written alongside; when the category name “アントシアニン” (anthocyanin) is used, it is written “着色料（アントシアニン）” (colorant (anthocyanin)). When a name containing the character “色” (color), such as “ムラサキイモ色素” or “野菜色素”, is used, the purpose name can be omitted.
A standard for use common to naturally derived 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 on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II) as E163.
E163 (anthocyanins) in the EU is defined as a single entry for anthocyanins obtained from edible fruits and vegetables, with no division by source plant.

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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