Lycopene
The short version
The deep-red carotenoid of tomatoes — a popular clean-label red and a heart-health supplement.
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
EFSA (2008) set an ADI of 0.5 mg/kg body weight per day for lycopene from all sources, and EFSA has noted that total intake, including lycopene naturally present in food, may exceed it, particularly in children. JECFA (2009) gave lycopene used as a food colour a group ADI "not specified". Naturally consumed at much higher levels in dietary tomato. No reproducible adverse effects at any realistic intake.
Sources
- EFSA — Dietary exposure to lycopene from background diet, novel foods and food additive use in the European population (2026) — EFSA, EFSA Journal 2026, 2026. EFSA ADI 0.5 mg/kg bw/day for lycopene from all sources; exposure may exceed it
- JECFA — Lycopene (INS 160d), evaluation summary — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 2009. JECFA 2009 group ADI "not specified"
- US 21 CFR 73.585 — Tomato lycopene extract; tomato lycopene concentrate — US eCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. US colour additive status
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, consolidated text (18.08.2026), Annex II — EUR-Lex (European Union), 2026. EU maximum levels per food category
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.