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Indigo carmine (E132)
Indigo carmine is a colour (blue) used in sweets, drinks, ice cream.. The EFSA acceptable daily intake is 5 mg per kg of body weight per day — about 300 mg a day for a 60 kg adult.
What it does
Where you meet it
Sweets, drinks, ice cream.
What the ADI means in practice
300 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 Indigo carmine (E132)?
Colour (blue). It is used in Sweets, drinks, ice cream.
How much indigo carmine is safe?
EFSA set the ADI at 5 mg per kg body weight per day — 300 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 indigo carmine?
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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