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E143ColorantModerate concern
Fast Green FCF
In plain words
The short version
A US-approved synthetic green triarylmethane dye — not approved in the EU.
Why we flag it amber
It's permitted and generally considered safe, but there are a few reasons to be mindful — like sensitivities in some people, debated studies, or intake limits. The Safety section below explains the specifics.
Safety profile
ADI of 0–25 mg/kg body weight (JECFA, confirmed in 2017). Not in the Southampton six trial. Some early bladder-tumor concerns from rat studies have not been reproduced in modern toxicology. Limited absorption (~5% in humans) — most is excreted unchanged in feces.
The detail
Synthesized from petroleum-derived intermediates as the disodium triarylmethane salt. Introduced in the 1920s. Closely related to brilliant blue (E133); the structural difference shifts the absorbance from blue to green.
Used in the US in canned peas and other green vegetables, sherbet, jellies, ice cream, and some toothpaste — provides a vivid blue-green tone. EU-banned since 1977 because of early animal-study concerns; the same studies were later considered inconclusive but the EU position has not changed.
Dark green to red-brown crystalline powder. Very soluble in water. Stable to acid and heat in food matrices.
Permitted in the US (FD&C Green No. 3) and several other markets. Not approved in the EU or UK.
Sources
- WHO JECFA database — Fast Green FCF (INS 143), 84th meeting 2017 — World Health Organization / JECFA, 2017. safety: ADI 0–25 mg/kg bw
- US eCFR — 21 CFR 74.203 FD&C Green No. 3 — U.S. Government Publishing Office / Office of the Federal Register (eCFR), 2026. regulation: permitted in US foods
- FDA — HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation's Food Supply (22 April 2025) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2025. regulation: US plan to phase out Green No. 3 with industry
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.