Red 2G colouring prohibition
Wednesday 8 August 2007
Following a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluation of the food colouring Red 2G (E128), the European Commission has prohibited imports of food containing Red 2G, because the colouring may have genotoxic and carcinogenic effects that can potentially damage cells and cause cancer in animals.
Commission Regulation (EC) 884/2007, which applied from 28 July 2007, prohibits imports of food containing Red 2G. Red 2G is no longer permitted anywhere in the European Union for any food use. See Commission Regulation (EC) 884/2007 on the European Commission website.
Prior to the Regulation, Red 2G was permitted for use as a colour in two foods only:
- breakfast sausages with a minimum cereal content of 6%
- burger meat with a minimum vegetable and/or cereal content of 4%
These uses are no longer permitted, except for products that are already on the market or that have been exported or consigned from a non-European Union country prior to 28 July 2007.
Regulation (EC) 884/2007 has been implemented in England by The Food (Suspension of the Use of E128 Red 2G as Food Colour) (England) Regulations 2007.
Numerical system for identifying Red 2G and other food additives
Many chemical substances, including food additives, have specific names that can be long and complex, and numbering systems have been established to help identify them. The following two numbering systems have each given Red 2G a unique number.
- Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) – registry number 3734-67-6
- International Numbering System for Food Additives (INS) – number 128