Comparing E152 - Black 7984 vs E172 - Iron oxides and iron hydroxides

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Overview

E152 - Black 7984

Black 7984 (E152) is a synthetic black colorant also known as Food Black 2 and, in common use, carbon black. It produces a deep, jet-black tone, but it is not approved today as a direct food color in either the European Union or the United States, where other black colorants are used instead.

E172 - Iron oxides and iron hydroxides

Iron oxides and iron hydroxides (E172) are mineral pigments used to give foods red, yellow, brown, or black shades. They are insoluble, stable colors made under strict purity standards and are used mainly on the surface of foods, such as coatings and decorations. Rules vary by country: they are widely authorized in the EU, while uses in the U.S. are more limited.

Synonyms

E152

Black 7984

Food Black 2

carbon black

E172

Iron oxides and iron hydroxides

Functions

colour

Origins

Synthetic

Mineral

Products

Found in 1 products

Found in 23 products

Search rank & volume

#1448.9K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#47150 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×218.33

over-aware

×0.44

under-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Search history data is not available.

Popular questions

What is black carbon?
In the food-additive context, carbon black (E152, Food Black 2) is a synthetic paracrystalline carbon pigment made by incomplete combustion of heavy oils; it is distinct from atmospheric “black carbon” (soot).
What is carbon black used for?
As a food additive it serves as a black colorant (though it is not permitted in the EU and many other jurisdictions); beyond food, it’s widely used to reinforce rubber (especially tires) and as a pigment in plastics, inks, and paints.
What is carbon black software?
That refers to a cybersecurity product and is unrelated to the E152 food color; E152 carbon black is a manufactured black pigment historically used as Food Black 2.
What is carbon black cloud?
Carbon Black Cloud is a cybersecurity platform, not the food additive; E152 is a synthetic carbon pigment used as a black colorant.
Who owns carbon black?
If you mean the software company, that’s separate; as a material/food additive, carbon black (E152) is a generic commodity produced by multiple manufacturers and isn’t owned by any single company.