日本語
Food additive databasecolorChecked 2026-10-02

Silver 銀

Existing food additivePermitted in the EU (E174)
Purpose
color
On the label
“銀” (silver), “銀箔” (silver leaf), “着色料（銀箔）” (coloring (silver leaf))
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives
銀 (No. 87)
Source and production
The essence is silver (Ag).

In Japan

  • Silver itself; another name is “銀箔” (silver leaf). On the List of Existing Food Additives, its purpose is coloring agent.
  • Under the standards for use of coloring agents (excluding chemically synthesized ones), it cannot be used in kelp (kombu), meat, fresh fish and shellfish, tea, nori (seaweed), beans, vegetables, or wakame seaweed.
  • When used for coloring, the purpose name must be written alongside. Because “銀” (silver) and “銀箔” (silver leaf) do not contain the character for “color” (色), it is written as “着色料（銀箔）” (coloring (silver leaf)).

Japan's standards for use

  • Standard for coloring agents (excluding chemically synthesized ones): must not be used in kelp (kombu), meat, fresh fish and shellfish (including whale meat), tea, nori (seaweed), beans, vegetables, or wakame seaweed

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 E174.
  • In the EU, it can be used only for the outer coating of confectionery, chocolate decorations, and liqueurs.
  • In a 2025 follow-up evaluation, EFSA said it could not reach a conclusion on the safety of silver (E174) as a food additive, because data on particle characteristics, genotoxicity, and subchronic toxicity were insufficient.

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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