FDA Status
Approved
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.
2.0 / 5
Composite safety 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. Its composite safety score is 2 out of 5 (Caution), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved.
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) (E133), CAS 3844-45-9, is a color additive additive holding a composite safety score of 2 out of 5 (Caution). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as Approved, while the European Union lists it as Approved. It is most commonly used as Candy, beverages, ice cream, canned peas.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance. Our regulatory timeline records 1 distinct regulatory event spanning multiple jurisdictions, illustrating how oversight has evolved over time.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue), which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2010/11/22. EFSA has noted an overexposure risk classification of "moderate" for typical consumption patterns. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E133 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 3844-45-9 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Color Additive | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 2 / 5 (Caution) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | 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.
EU Status
Approved
E133
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)'s 2/5 (Caution) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA has approved Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) for use in food products under specified conditions.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue). Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) compares
Where a safety score of 2/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) highlighted)
43 of 4,509 scored ingredients (1%) share a safety score of 2/5.
What is Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)?
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) safe to consume?
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) has a safety score of 2/5 (Caution). Scientific studies have raised health concerns. Check with a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
What is Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) used for in food?
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) is commonly used as: Candy, beverages, ice cream, canned peas. It belongs to the Color Additive category of food additives.
Is Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue). However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)?
The FDA classifies Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) as "Approved", while the EU status is "Approved" (E133). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue): Generally considered lower risk than red/yellow dyes, but FDA phaseout announced by 2027.. These findings inform its safety score of 2/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) calculated?
The safety score of 2/5 for Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue) is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
Related Color Additive Ingredients
What to do about Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue)
This additive is flagged, worth checking labels for.
- Check the FDA status (Approved) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.