FDA Status
Approved
Color Additive · EU 155
Brown Ht
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
Brown Ht: 2/5 (Caution)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Brown Ht 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
Brown Ht 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
Brown Ht (155) 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 Processed foods, beverages, confectionery.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Brown Ht 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 Brown Ht, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2014/05/28. EFSA has noted an overexposure risk classification of "high" 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 | 155 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | 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
155
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Brown Ht's 2/5 (Caution) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA has approved Brown Ht for use in food products under specified conditions.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Brown Ht. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Brown Ht compares
Where a safety score of 2/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Brown Ht highlighted)
43 of 4,509 scored ingredients (1%) share a safety score of 2/5.
What is Brown Ht?
Brown Ht is a food additive (155) classified as color additive.
Health Concerns
- EFSA evaluation: Refined exposure assessment of Brown HT -E 155-. EFSA overexposure risk: high
Common Uses
Processed foods, beverages, confectionery
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brown Ht safe to consume?
Brown Ht has a safety score of 2/5 (Caution). Scientific studies have raised health concerns. Check with a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
What is Brown Ht used for in food?
Brown Ht is commonly used as: Processed foods, beverages, confectionery. It belongs to the Color Additive category of food additives.
Is Brown Ht banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Brown Ht. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Brown Ht?
The FDA classifies Brown Ht as "Approved", while the EU status is "Approved" (155). 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 Brown Ht?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Brown Ht: EFSA evaluation: Refined exposure assessment of Brown HT -E 155-. EFSA overexposure risk: high. 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 Brown Ht calculated?
The safety score of 2/5 for Brown Ht 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 Brown Ht
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.