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E141ColorantLow concern
Chlorophyllin Copper Complexes
In plain words
The short version
A copper-stabilized form of chlorophyll — keeps a vivid green that survives heat, acid, and light.
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 of 15 mg/kg body weight. Considered safe. Free copper release is negligible under food conditions, but the copper presence is the reason for the stricter ADI versus E140.
The detail
Produced from natural chlorophyll by replacing the central magnesium with copper, then saponifying the lipid tail to give a water-soluble salt. The copper substitution stabilizes the green color across pH and temperature ranges.
Used widely where E140's instability fails — green candies, mint-flavored ice cream, soups, chewing gum, and oral hygiene products. Provides a brighter, more stable green than natural chlorophyll.
Dark green powder, soluble in water (the sodium-potassium salt form). Stable to light, heat, and acidic conditions. Bright vivid green.
Authorised in the EU as a food colour (E141). In the US, sodium copper chlorophyllin is listed as a color additive for food only in citrus-based dry beverage mixes, at up to 0.2% of the dry mix.
Sources
- JECFA database — Chlorophyllins, copper complexes, sodium and potassium salts (INS 141(ii)), evaluation 1978 — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1978. Safety: JECFA ADI 0–15 mg/kg bw for copper chlorophyllins
- JECFA database — Chlorophylls, copper complexes (INS 141(i)), evaluation 1969 — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1969. Safety: JECFA ADI 0–15 mg/kg bw for copper chlorophylls
- 21 CFR 73.125 — Sodium copper chlorophyllin (color additive), CFR 2025 edition — U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo) / FDA, 2025. US: permitted only in citrus-based dry beverage mixes, max 0.2%
- European Commission Food Additives Database — E 141 Copper complexes of 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.