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E140ColorantLow concern
Chlorophylls
In plain words
The short version
The natural green pigment of plants — used as a clean-label colorant in dairy and confectionery.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
ADI not specified. Considered safe at typical use levels. Chlorophyll is naturally ingested in large amounts from green vegetables.
The detail
Extracted from grass, alfalfa, nettle, or other green plant tissues using ethanol or acetone, then purified. Naturally responsible for plant photosynthesis. The food-grade chlorophyll mixture (a + b) was characterized chemically in the 19th century but remained difficult to stabilize.
Used to color herbal liqueurs (Chartreuse), ice cream, dairy desserts, candies, and chewing gum where a natural soft-green tone is wanted. Natural chlorophyll (E140) is less light- and acid-stable than the copper-complexed form (E141), limiting it to non-acidic, non-light-exposed products.
Dark green to olive oily extract or paste, soluble in oils, insoluble in water. The magnesium-porphyrin core can be lost under acidic or hot conditions, turning the color olive-brown.
Authorised in the EU as a food colour (E140). In the US, chlorophyll itself is not on FDA's list of color additives approved for human food; only the copper form, sodium copper chlorophyllin, is listed, for limited use.
Sources
- JECFA database — Chlorophylls (INS 140), evaluation 1969 (13th meeting) — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1969. Safety: JECFA did not set a numerical ADI
- FDA — Summary of Color Additives for Use in the United States in Foods, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Medical Devices — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2025. US: chlorophyll itself is not on the list of color additives approved for human food; only the copper form is
- European Commission Food Additives Database — E 140 Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins — European Commission, DG SANTE, 2026. EU authorisation as a food colour (Group II)
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.