Ingredient register

Brilliant Blue

Caution Artificial additive Food and drink E133 INS 133 CAS 3844-45-9

Decode Label flags Brilliant Blue as a low concern in food and drink (artificial additive). It appears in 14 of the 893 published products we have analysed (1.6%).

The concern

Synthetic blue dye — banned in several countries

E133 is a synthetic triarylmethane dye. It is banned or restricted in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden. May cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. No strong carcinogenic evidence, but the precautionary principle applies.

Most relevant to

People prone to allergies Children

Cited authority

EFSA; CSPI

Linked sources: EU →

How common it is in this catalogue

Measured across every product Decode Label has analysed — not estimated, and not taken from anyone else's dataset.

14 of 893 published products 1.6%

By category

Haircare 5

Food 3

Bath & Body 2

Oral Care 2

Skincare 1

Beverages 1

Hazard classification

EU EFSA re-evaluation (2010) — ADI reduced from 10 to 6 mg/kg bw/day Restricted route: oral 2010-11-22 source →

EFSA's re-evaluation lowered the acceptable daily intake; refined (Tier 3) exposure estimates fall below the new ADI, but less-refined (Tier 2) estimates exceed it for children at the 95th percentile of consumption.

Identity

Canonical name: Brilliant Blue FCF
CAS number: 3844-45-9
E number: E133
INS number: 133

Also appears on labels as

FD&C Blue No. 1 CI 42090

Questions

Is Brilliant Blue safe?

EU: EFSA re-evaluation (2010) — ADI reduced from 10 to 6 mg/kg bw/day. Why it is flagged: Synthetic blue dye — banned in several countries. Decode Label treats it as a low concern in food and drink. It appears in 14 of the 893 published products we have analysed (1.6%).

How common is Brilliant Blue in Indian packaged products?

Decode Label found Brilliant Blue in 14 of 893 published products (1.6%), most often in Haircare, Food, Bath & Body.

Which authorities have classified Brilliant Blue?

EU — EFSA re-evaluation (2010) — ADI reduced from 10 to 6 mg/kg bw/day.

Who should be most careful with Brilliant Blue?

People prone to allergies; Children.

Products containing Brilliant Blue

14 published products, each with its own full analysis.

Bikano Navratan Mixture | Spicy and Crunchy | Navrat... Bright Complete Vitamin C Face Wash Colgate Sensitive Everyday Protection Toothpaste Dabur Vatika Bio Infused Moisture Boost Shampoo Dabur Vatika Bio Infusions Anti Hairfall Shampoo Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol Hydent K Toothpaste Kesh Kanti Alovera Hair Cleanser Kesh Kanti Anti Dandruff Hair Cleanser Margo Natural Anti-Bacterial Handwash for Soft, Hydr... Medimix Ayurvedic 18 Herbs Hand Wash NIVED Ice Cream Mix Powder Coconut Malai Flavoured Prabhuji Pure Food Khatta Meetha Namkeen 900g Predator Gold Strike Energy Drink

Related ingredients

Other entries in the register with the same kind of concern.

Sunset Yellow FCF Tartrazine Monosodium Glutamate

Method and limits

Prevalence counts published products whose decoded ingredient list matches this substance or one of its label synonyms, using the same matching the score itself uses. It describes our catalogue of 893 products, not the Indian market as a whole.
Presence is not dose. An ingredient list gives order, not quantity, unless the pack declares a percentage. Nothing here estimates how much of this substance any product contains.
A classification is not a verdict on a product. An agency classifies a substance under defined conditions of exposure; whether that matters in a given food or cosmetic depends on route, concentration and use.
No regulatory rows. This substance is not matched in our regulatory warehouse, so the concern above rests on the cited authority alone.
Last updated. This register entry was last changed on 28 September 2026.
Corrections. Every figure here is reproducible from the sources named. If something is wrong, tell us and we will correct it and say what changed.