What Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives

⚡ Quick Facts

E-NumberE132
FDA StatusFDA permanently listed FD&C Blue No. 2 in 1983 (21 CFR 74.102). Approved for food, drugs, and cosmetics. The FDA reviewe…
EFSA StatusEFSA re-evaluated indigo carmine (E 132) in 2014. Established an ADI of 5 mg/kg body weight/day. EFSA noted that dietary…
ADI5 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA)
SeverityModerate Risk (6/10)

What Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)?

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.

Mechanism of Action

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.

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Why People Avoid Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)

Regulatory Status

🇺🇸 FDA

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

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.

Regulatory Timeline

1907 Congress passes Pure Food and Drugs Act, begins regulating food dyes
1981 FDA-contracted study finds brain tumors in rats fed Blue 2
1983 FDA permanently lists Blue 2, dismissing tumor findings as inconclusive
2014 EFSA re-evaluates E 132, establishes 5 mg/kg ADI
2023 California Food Safety Act (AB 418) does not include Blue 2 in its ban

📊 Top Categories Containing Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)

Candy 66Chips 8Pretzels & Snacks 8Peanuts 6Seeds & Related Snacks 6Popcorn 6
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Products Containing Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) (154 found in our database)

#ProductBrandScore
1NABISCO CHIPS AHOY! COOKIES CANDY 1X12.400 OZMondelez Int. US (0074819091009)0/100
2Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Chocolate Chip 14.7ozKellogg Company US0/100
3ORIGINAL BITE SIZE CANDIES, STRAWBERRY, LEMON, GREEN APPLE, ORANGE, GRAPEWm. Wrigley Jr. Company0/100
4PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CANDIES, PEANUT BUTTERMars Chocolate North America LLC0/100
5MILK CHOCOLATE MINIS CANDIES, MILK CHOCOLATEMars Chocolate North America LLC0/100
6Peanut Butter M&MsM&Ms0/100
7PEANUT CHOCOLATE CANDIES, PEANUTMars Chocolate North America LLC0/100
8peanut m&msM&Ms,Wrigley,Mars0/100
9WILD BERRY BITE SIZE CANDIESMars Chocolate North America LLC0/100
10BITE SIZE CANDIESWm. Wrigley Jr. Company0/100

Showing top 10 of 154 products. Download CheckIt AI to scan any product.

Average safety score for products containing Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine): 31/100

Safer Alternatives


Spirulina extract (blue-green algae)

Butterfly pea flower extract

Red cabbage juice (at high pH)

Natural indigo

Scientific Sources

  1. EFSA (2014). Scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of indigo carmine (E 132) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 12(7), 3768
  2. FDA (21 CFR 74.102). FD&C Blue No. 2 — Listing and certification
  3. Borzelleca et al. (1985). Chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity study of FD&C Blue No. 2 in rats. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 23(5), 551-558

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)?
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.
Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) safe?
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) is FDA permanently listed FD&C Blue No. 2 in 1983 (21 CFR 74.102). Approved for food, drugs, and cosmet. EFSA re-evaluated indigo carmine (E 132) in 2014. Established an ADI of 5 mg/kg body weight/day. EFS.
Where is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) banned?
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) is not currently banned in any major market according to our database.
What are alternatives to Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)?
Safer alternatives to Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) include: Spirulina extract (blue-green algae), Butterfly pea flower extract, Red cabbage juice (at high pH), Natural indigo.
How can I avoid Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)?
Download CheckIt AI and scan any product's barcode or ingredient label. The app will flag Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) and suggest safer alternatives.
What foods contain Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)?
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) is commonly found in: Blue candy, Popsicles, Beverages, Pet food, Baked goods, Cereal, Medical diagnostic dyes. Our database has flagged it in 154 products.
What are the side effects of Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)?
Concerns about Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) include: 1981 study showed brain tumors in rats (FDA dismissed as inconclusive); Petroleum-derived synthetic dye; Provides no nutritional value.
Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) natural or artificial?
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) is a synthetic (artificial) ingredient. Blue 2 is an indigoid dye that absorbs light in the orange-red spectrum (610-620 nm), appearing blue. It has poor stabil.
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⚕️ This page provides ingredient information for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary guidance. This information is for educational purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary advice.

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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "What Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredients/blue-2
MLA"What Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-04-17. https://getcheck.it/ingredients/blue-2.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredients/blue-2">What Is Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)? Safety, Risks & Alternatives | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@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} }