Color Additive · CAS 3844-45-9 · EU E133

Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)

FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.

Caution
Score 2 of 5
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue): 2/5 (Caution)

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. The European Union separately classifies it as approved.

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The verdict

Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it.

2/5
Caution
Approved
FDA status
Approved
EU status
0
state regulations

Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue): the regulatory record

Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue): composite 2/5 (Caution) with FDA Approved and EU Approved.

Property Value Source
CAS Number 3844-45-9 CAS Registry
FDA Status Approved FDA SAFFA
EU Status Approved EC 1333/2008
E-Number E133 EU additive register
Category Color Additive FDA functional class
Composite Safety Score 2 / 5 (Caution) PlainIngredients methodology
EFSA ADI Not in our EFSA data EFSA scientific opinion
U.S. State Actions 0 states State legislative records
Tracked Products Not yet tracked Open Food Facts (US)

Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.

Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue): what it is

Synthetic blue dye. Petroleum-based.

Health Concerns

  • Generally considered lower risk than red/yellow dyes, but FDA phaseout announced by 2027.

Common Uses

Candy, beverages, ice cream, canned peas

Regulatory Timeline

2025-04-15 FDA
Phaseout Announced

Included in FDA food dye phaseout.

Catalog-profile peer axes

Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) among its nationwide catalog-profile peers

Product-count (0) and safety-score (2/5) peer columns, disjoint link sets.

Score 2/5 peers (≥50 OFF products)

Nearest other additives by PlainIngredients safety score (floored at ≥50 tracked products), distinct from the count row.

8 peers

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) safe to consume?

Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) scores 2/5 (Caution). FDA status is Approved. Peer-reviewed flags sit behind the caution band. Check with a clinician for personal use.