Comparing E172 - Iron oxides and iron hydroxides vs E174 - Silver

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Overview

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.

E174 - Silver

Silver (E174) is a metallic color used to decorate foods like silver leaf on desserts and shiny sugar pearls on cakes. It gives a mirror-like finish and is usually applied to the surface rather than mixed into the food.

Synonyms

E172

Iron oxides and iron hydroxides

E174

Silver

element 47

Functions

colour

Origins

Synthetic

Mineral

Products

Found in 23 products

Found in 13 products

Search rank & volume

#47150 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#47550 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×0.44

under-aware

×0.68

under-aware

Search volume over time

Search history data is not available.

Popular questions

What happen on the bold and beautiful on s31 e172?
That’s a TV episode and unrelated to this additive; E172 refers to iron oxides and iron hydroxides, inorganic pigments used as colorants in foods, medicines, and cosmetics.
What is e171 and e172?
E171 is titanium dioxide, a white colorant (no longer authorized in EU foods since 2022), while E172 comprises iron oxides and hydroxides that provide yellow, red, or black pigments and remain permitted in many regions.
What is e172 in food?
E172 are insoluble iron oxide/hydroxide pigments used to color foods—especially the surfaces of confectionery, decorations, and coatings—in yellow, red, or black. They provide color only and do not meaningfully contribute dietary iron.
What is e172 in medicine?
In medicines, E172 is a colorant excipient used in tablet and capsule coatings and imprint inks to help identify products and strengths; it has no therapeutic effect.
What is e172 in resaerch article?
In research articles, “E172” typically refers to food‑grade iron oxide/hydroxide pigments, studied for composition, particle size (including any nano fraction), behavior in digestion, and safety. It may also be used as a standardized pigment in analytical or migration method studies.