Lutein (E161b)
- Food Fine
What is Lutein (E161b)?
Lutein (E161b) is a natural yellow pigment found in leafy greens and egg yolks, used to colour foods. At the amounts used for colour it is very low in risk. It's fine at normal amounts; high doses from supplements can tint the skin yellow, which is harmless.
What is Yasno’s verdict on Lutein?
Yasno’s verdict on Lutein: Fine. No meaningful concern at normal amounts.
Is Lutein allowed in the EU?
EU status of Lutein: Permitted as a food additive. Conditions and limits come from the regulation cited below. Yasno summarises them and does not replace the legal text.
| Where | EU | US |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Permitted as a food additive | Listed as a colour additive by the US FDA |
What else is it called?
- all-trans-Lutein
- Lutein A
- Vegetable lutein
Sources
- EU Food Additives Register — POL-FAD-IMPORT-3015, European Commission (DG SANTE), 2012
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of lutein (E 161b) as a food additive, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2010
- Summary and conclusions of the seventy-ninth meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), 2014
Always check the physical label. Yasno describes evidence and regulatory status. It never says a product is free of an allergen or safe for you, and it is not medical advice.
Yasno reads the whole label from a photo and explains every ingredient like this. It is coming soon to the App Store.