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Azorubine / carmoisine (E122)
Azorubine / carmoisine is a colour (red) used in sweets, drinks, jams.. The EFSA acceptable daily intake is 4 mg per kg of body weight per day — about 240 mg a day for a 60 kg adult.
What it does
Southampton-six colour; same label warning as E102.
Where you meet it
Sweets, drinks, jams.
What the ADI means in practice
240 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 Azorubine / carmoisine (E122)?
Colour (red). Southampton-six colour; same label warning as E102. It is used in Sweets, drinks, jams.
How much azorubine / carmoisine is safe?
EFSA set the ADI at 4 mg per kg body weight per day — 240 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 azorubine / carmoisine?
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.
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