E162 - Beetroot red

Functions: Colour

Betanin, or Beetroot Red, is a red glycosidic food dye obtained from beets; its aglycone, obtained by hydrolyzing away the glucose molecule, is betanidin. As a food additive, its E number is E162. The color of betanin depends on pH; between four and five it is bright bluish-red, becoming blue-violet as the pH increases. Once the pH reaches alkaline levels betanin degrades by hydrolysis, resulting in a yellow-brown color. Betanin is a betalain pigment, together with isobetanin, probetanin, and neobetanin. Other pigments contained in beet are indicaxanthin and vulgaxanthins. - Wikipedia

Risk of overexposure

EFSA evaluation: Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of beetroot red -E 162- as a food additive (2015-12-09)

Names: Rouge de betterave, bétanine, rouge betterave