Food additive databasecolorChecked 2026-10-02

Vegetable Carbon Black 植物炭末色素

Existing food additivePermitted in the EU (E153)

Purpose: color
On the label: “植物炭末色素” (vegetable carbon pigment), “炭末色素” (carbon powder pigment), “着色料（炭末）” (colorant (carbon powder))
Name in the List of Existing Food Additives: 植物炭末色素 (No. 152)
Source and production: Obtained by carbonizing plants; the main component is carbon. 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

A colorant whose main component is carbon, obtained by carbonizing plants.
Colorants are a purpose for which the purpose name must be shown alongside, so when written with the simplified name “炭末” (carbon powder), it becomes “着色料（炭末）” (colorant (carbon powder)). When written with a name that contains the character “色” (color), such as the product name or another name, the purpose name can be omitted.
There is a standard for use common to naturally derived colorants, and they cannot be used in kelp (kombu), meat, fresh fish and shellfish, tea, nori (laver) products, beans, vegetables, or wakame seaweed.

Japan's standards for use

Must not be used in kelp (kombu), meat, fresh fish and shellfish (including whale meat), tea, nori (laver) products, beans, vegetables, or wakame seaweed (the 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 E153.

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

← Back to the food additive database