FDA Status
Approved
Color Additive · CAS 860-22-0 · EU E132
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)
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 2 (Indigo Carmine): 2/5 (Caution)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) 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 2 (Indigo Carmine) 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 2 (Indigo Carmine) (E132), CAS 860-22-0, 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, baked goods, cereal.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) 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 2 (Indigo Carmine), which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2014/07/25, with an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 5. EFSA has noted an overexposure risk classification of "no" 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 | E132 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 860-22-0 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Color Additive | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 2 / 5 (Caution) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | 5 | 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
E132
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)'s 2/5 (Caution) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA has approved Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) for use in food products under specified conditions.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine). Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) compares
Where a safety score of 2/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) highlighted)
43 of 4,509 scored ingredients (1%) share a safety score of 2/5.
What is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)?
Synthetic indigo blue dye.
Health Concerns
- FDA phaseout planned by 2027.
Common Uses
Candy, baked goods, cereal
Regulatory Timeline
2025-04-15 FDA
Phaseout Announced
Included in FDA food dye phaseout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) safe to consume?
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) 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 2 (Indigo Carmine) used for in food?
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) is commonly used as: Candy, baked goods, cereal. It belongs to the Color Additive category of food additives.
Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine). However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)?
The FDA classifies Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) as "Approved", while the EU status is "Approved" (E132). 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 2 (Indigo Carmine)?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine): FDA phaseout planned 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 2 (Indigo Carmine) calculated?
The safety score of 2/5 for Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) 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 2 (Indigo Carmine)
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.