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Answer: Spirulina Extract is not currently banned worldwide, but health agencies have flagged concerns. The FDA still allows it in US food. Risk level: low. Commonly found in: Sweetworks Blue Confetti, Natural Candy Store products, Various natural blue frosting brands.
TL;DR: Spirulina Extract is allowed in the EU but allowed in the US (color).
Reviewed for clarity & usefulness by the BannedPantry Parent Panel
Also called phycocyanin. CAS 8049-31-8.
Other names: blue spirulina, spirulina concentrate, phycocyanin, E3 in some markets
| EU status | Allowed |
|---|---|
| US status | Allowed |
| Risk level | low |
| Where it shows up | Sweetworks Blue Confetti, Natural Candy Store products, Various natural blue frosting brands, Blue-colored ice pops, Healthy snack brands |
| CAS number | 8049-31-8 |
Spirulina extract is a blue-green color derived from the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (spirulina). The active coloring compound is phycocyanin, a fluorescent blue protein-pigment complex. The FDA approved spirulina extract as a color additive for candies, confections, and chewing gum in 2013, making it a popular natural alternative to FD&C Blue No. 1.
Provides blue-to-blue-green natural coloring in candies, frosting, popsicles, and beverages as a replacement for synthetic blue dyes.
Spirulina extract is safe at food coloring use levels. Spirulina as a supplement is generally well-tolerated; however, it can contain trace amounts of heavy metals and potentially hepatotoxic cyanotoxins if harvested from contaminated water bodies. Commercial food-grade spirulina extract is purified and subject to quality standards that minimize these risks. No adverse effects from spirulina-derived food coloring have been documented in peer-reviewed literature.
For educational use only. This page summarizes the regulatory status of Spirulina Extractwith citations to the primary sources below. It is not medical advice. Regulatory status is not the same as a proven health effect — read the cited sources for their exact wording, and consult a doctor for decisions about your or your family's health.
Butterfly pea flower extract provides blue coloring. Indigo carmine (E132) is a synthetic alternative.
Yes — spirulina is a cyanobacterium (blue-green algae), not an animal product.
Many consumers prefer it as a natural alternative. It does not carry the hyperactivity warning required in the EU for synthetic dyes.
Wild spirulina can contain cyanotoxins if harvested from contaminated sources. Food-grade commercial extracts are tested and purified.
Natural blue candies, some ice cream brands, popsicles, and frosting marketed as 'natural' or 'organic.'
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