Comparing E133 - Brilliant blue FCF vs E140 - Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins

What is blue 1 made of?

A synthetic triarylmethane dye used as a food color; it's the disodium salt of a sulfonated aromatic compound and is water‑soluble. An insoluble 'lake' form is made by depositing the dye onto aluminum hydroxide for use in fats and coatings.

What does blue 1 do to your body?

At typical dietary levels it has no known physiological effect; most ingested Blue 1 is poorly absorbed and is excreted. Rarely, sensitive individuals may have allergic-type reactions or temporary blue-green stool/urine.

Is blue 1 dye bad for you?

No—major regulators (FDA, EFSA, JECFA) consider it safe at permitted levels, with an EFSA ADI of 6 mg/kg body weight per day. Adverse reactions are uncommon and usually limited to rare hypersensitivity.

How is blue 1 made?

It’s synthesized from petroleum‑derived aromatic compounds by constructing a triarylmethane core, then sulfonating and oxidizing it to a water‑soluble disodium salt. The 'lake' form is produced by precipitating the dye onto aluminum hydroxide.

Does blue 1 cause cancer?

Current evidence does not show that Blue 1 causes cancer at permitted food-use levels. Long-term animal studies and evaluations by EFSA/JECFA have not identified carcinogenic or genotoxic concerns.