Why the US FDA has not approved carbon black for colouring food

Carbon black (E153)

Vegetable carbon black is a food additive. It’s an odourless black powder that is rarely used alone in food.

It is suitable for particular varieties of sweetmeat like ice cream, desserts, bakery products, cheese coating, decorations, etc.

Legal no & registry

Legal No (E 153), CAS Registry Number 7440-44-0.

Not Approved By FDA

FDA is food & drug administration in the US, and they are accountable for protecting the public’s health, ensuring their safety & security. The reasons are below why they didn’t approve carbon black in the US yet.

No regulation on activated charcoal

  • FDA does not allow restaurant’s & cafes in the US to serve food having “Activated charcoal” in it.
  • They says that there are no regulations yet regarding activated charcoal as a food or colour additive to be added to food.
  • FDA says that qualified experts are required to recognize that the use of activated charcoal in food is safe.
  • Before the FDA makes their official approval & decision.
  • Though charcoal is entirely safe & Europe, Australia & many other countries are using it as a food colouring agent.
  • With the help of activated charcoal,
  • Not only poisonings like food & others is treateable.
  • But it is very beneficial for
  • Reducing intestinal gas, low cholesterol levels, preventing hangovers, treating bile flow problems during pregnancy.
  • Although some US agency batches also certify that the use of this vegetable carbon natural colour is safe as a food additive or food colouring agent.
  • But US district laboratories need qualitative analytical
  • They want to know ways to determine
  • That the presence of activated charcoal in the vegetable carbon black is safe before they officially approve the use of this pigment is entirely secure.

Trends & Scientific Opinion

  • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) deliver a scientific opinion regarding vegetable carbon (E 153) as a food colouring substance.
  • European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA) says that carbon black is evaluated by the SFC in 1977-1983
  • The SFC concluded by the use of vegetable carbon black is completely safe & could be used in food.
  • It becomes a trend in Europe & other countries to serve this food pigment in beverages
  • Like juices, ice cream, cake, desserts etc.
  • Vegetable carbon black contains 1.0/kg of residual carcinogenic, which is entirely safe and not of safety concern.
  • Vegetable carbon black is authorize as a food additive in the EU by the scientific food committee in 1977.
  • And by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in 1970

AUTHORIZING CARBON BLACK IN US

These were some back clashes regarding vegetable carbon black & its approval by FDA.

Definitely in future, we can expect that FDA will approve the use of this vegetable carbon black natural colour because of its benefits.

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