Compare E123 vs E126, Amaranth vs Ponceau 6R

Overview

E123 - Amaranth

Amaranth (E123) is a bright, water‑soluble red color made in the lab and used to tint foods and drinks. It is no longer allowed in the United States but remains permitted for limited uses in the European Union under strict purity rules. Below, we explain why it’s used, where it appears, and what the safety agencies say about it.

E126 - Ponceau 6R

Ponceau 6R (E126) is a synthetic red azo dye that was historically used to color foods and drinks. Today it is not approved for use as a food color in major markets like the European Union and the United States, so you are unlikely to see it on modern ingredient lists in those regions.

Synonyms

E123

Amaranth

FD&C Red 2

E126

Ponceau 6R

Functions

colour

Origins

Synthetic

Products

Found in 7 products

Found in 0 products

Search rank & volume

#3382.3K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#425100 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×1002.15

over-aware

Awareness data is not available.

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions

How to cook amaranth?
E123 amaranth is a synthetic food dye, not the edible grain, so it isn’t cooked; where legal, manufacturers dissolve tiny amounts into foods to add red color. It’s banned in the United States and not intended for home use.
Is amaranth gluten free?
Yes—E123 amaranth is a synthetic colorant and contains no gluten; any gluten risk would come from the finished product or added carriers, not the dye itself.
How to eat amaranth?
You don’t eat E123 by itself; where permitted, it’s simply present in colored foods (e.g., glacé cherries or confections) and consumed as part of those products.
What does amaranth taste like?
At permitted levels E123 has virtually no taste; it’s used to impart a red hue, not flavor.
What is amaranth in stardew valley?
In Stardew Valley, “amaranth” is the grain crop and is unrelated to E123. E123 is a synthetic red dye used to color foods in some countries and is banned in the U.S.

Comparing E123 - Amaranth vs E126 - Ponceau 6R