FDA Status
GRAS
Color Additive · CAS 83-88-5 · EU E101
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
FDA status: GRAS. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
5.0 / 5
Composite safety Generally Safe
Score 5 of 5
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 5/5 (Generally Safe)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 5 out of 5 (Generally Safe), 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
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is classified GRAS by the FDA, 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).
- 5/5
- Generally Safe
- GRAS
- FDA status
- 20th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) (E101), CAS 83-88-5, is a color additive additive holding a composite safety score of 5 out of 5 (Generally Safe). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as GRAS, 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 Pasta, cereals, baby food.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 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 Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2013-10-22. 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 | GRAS | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E101 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 83-88-5 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Color Additive | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 5 / 5 (Generally Safe) | 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
E101
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)'s 5/5 (Generally Safe) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA classifies Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), meaning qualified experts consider it safe under intended conditions of use.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Riboflavin (Vitamin B2). Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) compares
Where a safety score of 5/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) highlighted)
31 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.7%) share a safety score of 5/5.
What is Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)?
Natural yellow color and essential vitamin.
Health Concerns
- Safe. Essential nutrient.
Common Uses
Pasta, cereals, baby food
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) safe to consume?
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) has a safety score of 5/5 (Generally Safe). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) used for in food?
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is commonly used as: Pasta, cereals, baby food. It belongs to the Color Additive category of food additives.
Is Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Riboflavin (Vitamin B2). However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)?
The FDA classifies Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) as "GRAS", while the EU status is "Approved" (E101). 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 Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): Safe. Essential nutrient.. These findings inform its safety score of 5/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) calculated?
The safety score of 5/5 for Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 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 Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (GRAS) 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.