Patent Blue V
Also listed as E131.
This is what the ingredient is.
Patent Blue V (E131) is a synthetic triarylmethane dye used in foods and as a medical diagnostic agent.
Here is why it shows up on the label.
Provides blue color to confections and beverages. Widely used in medical procedures for lymph node mapping.
Here is what food agencies say.
Not approved for food in US. Europe sets a suggested daily limit of about five milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Permitted in EU and other countries.
Here is what research has found.
Safety established for food use in approved regions. Medical use has documented rare allergic reactions.
Here are a few things worth knowing.
Rare anaphylactic reactions reported in medical use. Food use appears safe at approved levels.
Sources
- EU Food Additives Regulation
- EFSA Scientific Opinion
- British Journal of Anaesthesia
How to read this page
We publish plain facts about this ingredient so a label is easier to read. This is not medical advice, and it is not a recommendation to buy, avoid, or use anything. For a personal health question, talk with a clinician who knows your history.