Ingredient Index · E133

Is Blue 1 banned in Europe?

Legal in both

No. Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue, E133) is legal in both the EU and the US; it is not one of the six Southampton dyes, so it carries no EU warning label, just category-specific maximum levels.

E-number: E133CAS: 3844-45-9 Also seen as: Brilliant Blue FCF, FD&C Blue No. 1, E133

What the EU does

Brilliant Blue FCF is an authorized EU food color under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, with maximum permitted levels set per food category. Unlike Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, E133 was not part of the Southampton study's warning list, so it carries no mandatory children's-activity warning.

EFSA re-evaluated Brilliant Blue in 2010 and kept it authorized with an acceptable daily intake of 6 mg per kilogram of body weight. Of the famous American dyes, this is the one with the quietest European story, which is exactly why its appearance on "banned in Europe" listicles is a reliable sign the list wasn't checked.

Citation Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (E133); EFSA re-evaluation 2010

What the US does

Legal under 21 CFR 74.101 with no restrictions beyond good manufacturing practice. Blue 1 colors everything from blue raspberry candy to mouthwash.

It is swept up in the same 2025 voluntary phase-out conversation as the other synthetic dyes, but no federal regulatory action targets it specifically.

Citation 21 CFR 74.101 (FD&C Blue No. 1)

Products that commonly contain it

Blue 1 supplies nearly all the blue in the US food supply:

Blue M&Ms and blue candy generally
Gatorade Cool Blue and blue sports drinks
Blue raspberry slushes and freeze pops
Ice cream and frosting
Cereals with blue pieces
Mouthwash and toothpaste

What to look for on a label

Names to scan for:

"Blue 1" or "FD&C Blue No. 1" on US labels
"Brilliant Blue FCF", the chemical name
"E133" on EU-labeled products (legally, with no warning attached)
Different from Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine, E132), a separate dye, also legal in both

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Frequently asked questions

Is Blue 1 banned in Europe?

No. Brilliant Blue (E133) is authorized under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 with maximum use levels per category, and it carries no warning label because it was not part of the Southampton study list.

Is Blue 1 banned in the United States?

No. It is permitted under 21 CFR 74.101 and is the standard blue across the US food supply.

Does Blue 1 require the EU hyperactivity warning?

No. The warning applies to six specific dyes (E102, E104, E110, E122, E124, E129). E133 is not one of them.

Is Blue 1 safe?

EFSA's 2010 re-evaluation set an acceptable daily intake of 6 mg/kg body weight and kept it authorized; the FDA likewise considers approved uses safe. Both regulators continue periodic review.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed June 10, 2026 · How we assign statuses