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E132ColorantModerate concern
Indigotine
In plain words
The short version
A synthetic blue dye (indigo carmine) — common in confectionery and ice cream, with documented allergy reports.
Why we flag it amber
A synthetic blue dye (Indigotine / Blue 2). It adds colour only and can occasionally cause allergic-type reactions in sensitive people, which is why we flag it.
Safety profile
ADI of 5 mg/kg body weight. Considered safer than the Southampton six but documented to cause hypersensitivity reactions (urticaria, bronchospasm) in a small subset of individuals, particularly when injected as a diagnostic dye. Some studies report behavioral effects but evidence is weaker than for azo dyes.
The detail
Educational information only. Not medical or dietary advice.