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Curcumin (E100)
Curcumin is a colour (yellow) used in curry powders, mustard, soups, some cheeses and sweets.. The EFSA acceptable daily intake is 3 mg per kg of body weight per day — about 180 mg a day for a 60 kg adult.
What it does
From turmeric.
Where you meet it
Curry powders, mustard, soups, some cheeses and sweets.
What the ADI means in practice
180 mg per day is the figure for a 60 kg adult — multiply or divide for your own weight. EFSA derives ADIs with a safety margin of typically 100×, and they describe daily lifetime intake. A single day above the ADI does not translate to harm; a permanent diet above it is what the limit exists to prevent.
This page describes the general scientific position. Allergies and sensitivities are individual: if your body disagrees with an additive, avoid it regardless of any ADI.
Sources: EFSA — food additives re-evaluations · Open Food Facts — additives taxonomy · checked 2026-09-03
Frequently asked questions
What is Curcumin (E100)?
Colour (yellow). From turmeric. It is used in Curry powders, mustard, soups, some cheeses and sweets.
How much curcumin is safe?
EFSA set the ADI at 3 mg per kg body weight per day — 180 mg per day for a 60 kg adult, every day for a lifetime. It is a long-run average, not a single-meal limit.
Should I avoid curcumin?
For a healthy adult there is no reason to avoid it at typical intakes. If you have a diagnosed sensitivity or a health condition, your clinician's advice is the one that counts.
E101 · Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Colour (yellow)
E102 · Tartrazine
Colour (yellow)
E104 · Quinoline yellow
Colour (yellow-green)
E110 · Sunset yellow FCF
Colour (orange)
E120 · Carmine / cochineal
Colour (red)
E122 · Azorubine / carmoisine
Colour (red)
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