What is E 100?
E 100 is the E number of Curcumin. Yellow colour extracted from the root of the turmeric plant. It is used in mustard, curry blends, margarine, cheese and confectionery.
Where is E 100 most commonly used?
Curcumin most often colours mustard, curry sauces and spice blends yellow. It is also common in margarine, processed cheese, desserts and confectionery.
What is E 100 used for?
E 100 belongs to the group "Colours" and is used as colour.
- Colour: Colours add or restore colour in a food.
Which foods may contain E 100?
According to the European Commission's database, E 100 may be used in 45 food categories and subcategories, each only in specific products and usually with maximum levels. The categories come from these areas:
- Dairy products and analogues
- Fats and oils and fat and oil emulsions
- Edible ices
- Fruit and vegetables
- Confectionery
- Cereals and cereal products
- Bakery wares
- Meat
- Fish and fisheries products
- Salts, spices, soups, sauces, salads and protein products
- Foods for specific groups (infants, young children, special medical purposes)
- Beverages
- Ready-to-eat savouries and snacks
- Desserts
- Food supplements
- Processed foods not covered by categories 1 to 17
Is E 100 vegan?
Usually yes: the substance is normally made from plant, mineral or synthetic raw materials or with microorganisms. In individual cases, only the manufacturer or a vegan label can give certainty.
Is E 100 linked to genetic engineering?
No typical link to genetic engineering is known for this substance: it is not usually obtained from plants for which GM varieties exist, nor produced by fermentation.
How does E 100 appear on the label?
In the list of ingredients, the substance appears with its function, followed by the E number or the name, for example "Colour: E 100" or "Colour: Curcumin".
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, consolidated version of 18.08.2026, Annexes I and II, EUR-Lex
- Food Additives Database, European Commission (accessed 19 October 2026)