| E-Number | E132 |
| FDA Status | FDA permanently listed FD&C Blue No. 2 in 1983 (21 CFR 74.102). Approved for food, drugs, and cosmetics. The FDA reviewe… |
| EFSA Status | EFSA re-evaluated indigo carmine (E 132) in 2014. Established an ADI of 5 mg/kg body weight/day. EFSA noted that dietary… |
| ADI | 5 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA) |
| Severity | Moderate Risk (6/10) |
A synthetic indigoid dye derived from indigo, one of the oldest known dyes. Unlike natural indigo (from plants), FD&C Blue No. 2 is produced synthetically from petroleum-based chemicals. It is used to color foods, medications, medical diagnostic procedures (chromoendoscopy), and cosmetics. It produces a deep blue color and is often combined with other dyes to create green or purple shades.
Blue 2 is an indigoid dye that absorbs light in the orange-red spectrum (610-620 nm), appearing blue. It has poor stability compared to other synthetic dyes — it degrades in light, heat, and acidic conditions. In the body, it is partially reduced by intestinal microflora to form indigo and other metabolites. A 1981 FDA-contracted study found that Blue 2 caused brain tumors (gliomas) in male rats at high doses, but the FDA concluded the results were not statistically significant.
FDA permanently listed FD&C Blue No. 2 in 1983 (21 CFR 74.102). Approved for food, drugs, and cosmetics. The FDA reviewed the 1981 study showing brain tumors in rats and concluded the evidence was insufficient to warrant a ban. ADI not formally established by FDA.
EFSA re-evaluated indigo carmine (E 132) in 2014. Established an ADI of 5 mg/kg body weight/day. EFSA noted that dietary exposure is below the ADI for all population groups. EFSA recommended additional genotoxicity studies.
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| # | Product | Brand | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NABISCO CHIPS AHOY! COOKIES CANDY 1X12.400 OZ | Mondelez Int. US (0074819091009) | 0/100 |
| 2 | Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Chocolate Chip 14.7oz | Kellogg Company US | 0/100 |
| 3 | ORIGINAL BITE SIZE CANDIES, STRAWBERRY, LEMON, GREEN APPLE, ORANGE, GRAPE | Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company | 0/100 |
| 4 | PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CANDIES, PEANUT BUTTER | Mars Chocolate North America LLC | 0/100 |
| 5 | MILK CHOCOLATE MINIS CANDIES, MILK CHOCOLATE | Mars Chocolate North America LLC | 0/100 |
| 6 | Peanut Butter M&Ms | M&Ms | 0/100 |
| 7 | PEANUT CHOCOLATE CANDIES, PEANUT | Mars Chocolate North America LLC | 0/100 |
| 8 | peanut m&ms | M&Ms,Wrigley,Mars | 0/100 |
| 9 | WILD BERRY BITE SIZE CANDIES | Mars Chocolate North America LLC | 0/100 |
| 10 | BITE SIZE CANDIES | Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company | 0/100 |
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Average safety score for products containing Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine): 31/100
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CheckIt AI. (2026). "What Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredients/blue-2"What Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-04-17. https://getcheck.it/ingredients/blue-2.<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredients/blue-2">What Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>@misc{checkit2026ingredientsblue2,
title = {What Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI},
author = {CheckIt AI},
year = {2026},
publisher = {Climaverse PBC},
url = {https://getcheck.it/ingredients/blue-2},
note = {Retrieved 2026-04-17}
}