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E154 Brown FK

Food Brown 1

Origin:
Mixture of synthetic azo dyes. See here for a background on azo dyes.

Function & characteristics:
Brown food colour. Very soluble in water.

Products:
Restricted use in some fish products.

Daily intake:
None determined.

Side effects:
Since it is an azo dye, it may elicit intolerance in people intolerant to salicylates. Additionally, it is a histamine liberator, and may intensify symptoms of asthma. In combination with benzoates, it is also implicated in hyperactivity in children. Some of the compounds in the mixture may be mutagenic; hence the use is restricted to a few products.

Dietary restrictions:
None; E154 can be consumed by all religious groups, vegans and vegetarians.