日本語
Food additive databaseantioxidantChecked 2026-10-02

Quercetin クエルセチン

Existing food additiveNot on the EU additive list
Purpose
antioxidant
On the label
“酸化防止剤（クエルセチン）” (antioxidant (quercetin)), “酸化防止剤（ケルセチン）” (antioxidant (quercetin)), “酸化防止剤（ルチン分解物）” (antioxidant (rutin decomposition product))
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives
クエルセチン (No. 90)
Source and production
Its essential component is quercetin (also known as “ケルセチン”; simplified name “ルチン分解物” (rutin decomposition product)). Its source, manufacturing method, and nature follow the component specifications in Japan's Specifications and Standards for Food Additives (“食品添加物公定書”).

In Japan

  • An antioxidant used to prevent oxidation. The simplified name is “ルチン分解物” (rutin decomposition product).
  • Antioxidants are a purpose for which the purpose name must be shown alongside, as in “酸化防止剤（クエルセチン）” (antioxidant (quercetin)).
  • “タマネギ色素” (onion pigment) (a colorant whose main component is quercetin, obtained from onion bulbs) and “酵素処理イソクエルシトリン” (enzymatically modified isoquercitrin) are separate items.

Japan's standards for use

There are no standards for use that limit which foods or how much (the general standards for all additives still apply).

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.

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 antioxidant

← Back to the food additive database