FDA Status
Approved
Color Additive · EU 133
Brilliant Blue FCF
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
3.0 / 5
Composite safety Mixed Evidence
Score 3 of 5
Brilliant Blue FCF: 3/5 (Mixed Evidence)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Brilliant Blue FCF is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 3 out of 5 (Mixed Evidence), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. It is a comparatively niche additive by product count.
- 20th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Brilliant Blue FCF is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is a comparatively niche additive by product count (20th percentile by tracked product count).
- 3/5
- Mixed Evidence
- Approved
- FDA status
- 20th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Brilliant Blue FCF (133) is a color additive additive holding a composite safety score of 3 out of 5 (Mixed Evidence). 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. This ingredient appears in approximately 3 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Processed foods, beverages, confectionery.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Brilliant Blue FCF 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.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Brilliant Blue FCF, 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 | 133 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Color Additive | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 3 / 5 (Mixed Evidence) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 3 | 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
133
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Brilliant Blue FCF's 3/5 (Mixed Evidence) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA has approved Brilliant Blue FCF for use in food products under specified conditions.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Brilliant Blue FCF. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Brilliant Blue FCF compares
Where a safety score of 3/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Brilliant Blue FCF highlighted)
25 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.6%) share a safety score of 3/5.
What is Brilliant Blue FCF?
BRILLIANT BLUE FCF -Blue 1- is an organic compound classified as a blue triarylmethane dye, reflecting its chemical structure. Known under various commercial names, it is a colorant for foods and other substances.
Health Concerns
- EFSA evaluation: Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of Brilliant Blue FCF -E 133- as a food additive. EFSA overexposure risk: moderate
Common Uses
Processed foods, beverages, confectionery
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brilliant Blue FCF safe to consume?
Brilliant Blue FCF has a safety score of 3/5 (Mixed Evidence). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Brilliant Blue FCF used for in food?
Brilliant Blue FCF is commonly used as: Processed foods, beverages, confectionery. It belongs to the Color Additive category of food additives.
Is Brilliant Blue FCF banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Brilliant Blue FCF. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Brilliant Blue FCF?
The FDA classifies Brilliant Blue FCF as "Approved", while the EU status is "Approved" (133). 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 Brilliant Blue FCF?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Brilliant Blue FCF: EFSA evaluation: Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of Brilliant Blue FCF -E 133- as a food additive. EFSA overexposure risk: moderate. These findings inform its safety score of 3/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Brilliant Blue FCF calculated?
The safety score of 3/5 for Brilliant Blue FCF 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 Brilliant Blue FCF
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- 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.