Additives
Orcein (E182): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Limited risk
Colour · Natural colour
Orcein, also called orchil, is a natural purple-red dye produced by treating lichens of the genus Roccella with ammonia. The EU withdrew it from permitted food colours in 1977, so it is not authorised for food use, although it remains a common histological stain. Food-safety data are limited.
- Category
- Colour — Natural colour
- Typically used in
- Not authorised for food in the EU/UK; used as a textile and histology dye.
- Regulatory status
- Not authorised as a food colour in the EU/UK; withdrawn in 1977.
- Also listed as
- Orchil
Scrannr flags Orcein automatically when you scan a barcode.
Sources
Where this comes from
- Food Standards Agency (2024) — Approved additives and E numbers https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/approved-additives-and-e-numbers
Products
Products containing Orcein
We're building product pages that show real UK products containing Orcein, using Open Food Facts data. They'll appear here soon — in the meantime, scan any barcode with the Scrannr app to check for it instantly.
Let Scrannr read the label.
Scan a barcode and get the additives flagged in plain English, plus a clear health score. Free to download.