Carbon black as colouring agents authorised for colouring foodstuffs by Community rules

What it is. Carbon black (E 153) is a colouring additive authorised by Community rules for colouring foodstuffs, used here as a feed colorant. It belongs to the group of colouring agents regulated under EU rules rather than to natural pigment extracts.

What it is for. This additive is generally used to standardise or modify the colour of feed products, notably for ornamental fish and other target species where visual appearance is a commercial or technical criterion. It is typically selected when a stable, dark coloration is sought rather than a nutritional effect. Use is generally limited to specific formulations rather than general diets.

Points to watch. Its EU registry authorisation end date is noted as 2023-05-30; current regulatory status should be verified before use. As a colouring agent, it should be dosed according to the applicable annex and not combined without checking compatibility with other colorants or additives.