What is E140?

Complete guide to understanding E140 (Chlorophylls) – the natural green plant pigment food coloring

The Quick Answer

E140 is chlorophyll—the natural green pigment found in all plants and algae that is essential for photosynthesis. It’s extracted from green plant sources (spinach, alfalfa, nettles, grass) and used as a natural green food coloring. E140 comes in two main forms: E140(i) is chlorophyll extracted directly with organic solvent, while E140(ii) is chlorophyllins (modified chlorophylls with magnesium removed).

E140 is used to color foods green—particularly useful for restoring green color lost during processing (like canned vegetables). It’s found in beverages, dairy products, baked goods, candies, ice cream, and savory products. Unlike synthetic food dyes, E140 is entirely natural, already present in your diet through vegetables.

E140 is FDA-approved and EU-authorized as a safe food coloring. It has an excellent safety record and is actually lower in exposure when used as an additive than the amounts naturally consumed through normal diet. Additionally, chlorophyll has documented health benefits including antioxidant and potential anti-inflammatory properties.

What Exactly Is It?

E140 is chlorophyll—a magnesium-containing porphyrin pigment at the heart of photosynthesis that gives plants their green color. It’s one of the most abundant natural pigments on Earth, produced by plants, algae, and some bacteria through the photosynthetic process.

Think of chlorophyll as nature’s light-harvesting antenna. The molecule has a central magnesium atom surrounded by a ring of nitrogen atoms and carbons (a porphyrin ring), with a long lipophilic (fat-soluble) tail that anchors it into plant cell membranes. This structure allows it to absorb light energy and initiate the chemical reactions that convert sunlight into chemical energy—the foundation of virtually all life on Earth.

Key characteristic: E140 is truly natural—it’s the exact same molecule your body encounters when eating green vegetables. It’s already part of your normal diet from vegetables, fruits, and herbs. The pigment is extracted from plants and used to concentrate and stabilize this natural coloring in food products.

Chemical identity:

• Main components (E140i): Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B (roughly 3:1 ratio in most plants)
• Chemical formula (Chlorophyll A): C₅₅H₇₂MgN₄O₅
• Central atom: Magnesium (Mg²⁺) coordinated in porphyrin ring
• CAS Number (Chlorophyll): 1406-65-1
• Molecular weight: ~893 Da (varies with isoprenyl tail)
• Structural class: Tetrapyrrole/porphyrin (four nitrogen-containing rings)
• E140(ii) composition: Chlorophyllins (magnesium removed); chlorin e₆ and rhodin g₇ as main components
• Photosynthetic role: Absorbs photons in 400-500 nm (blue) and 600-700 nm (red) wavelengths

How it’s made/extracted:

E140 is obtained through natural extraction from plant sources:

• E140(i) process: Direct solvent extraction (organic solvents like ethanol, acetone) from green plant material (spinach, alfalfa, nettles, grass)
• E140(ii) process: Saponification of chlorophyll extract (treatment with alkali) which removes magnesium and partially degrades molecules
• Primary sources: Grass, alfalfa, nettles, spinach—chosen for high chlorophyll content
• Non-edible plant sources: Often extracted from agricultural byproducts like grass and alfalfa (non-edible to humans)
• Natural process: Both forms use only solvent extraction and chemical modification; no synthetic synthesis
• Purification: Final products purified to food-grade specifications

Naturally-derived: E140 is entirely naturally-derived—it’s chlorophyll extracted from plants, not synthetically manufactured. This is one of the key distinctions making it one of the most “natural” food colorings available.

E140(i) vs E140(ii) vs E141

Key difference: E140(i) retains magnesium and is primarily oil-soluble; E140(ii) has magnesium removed and is more versatile; E141 replaces magnesium with copper for enhanced color stability and brightness (E141ii water-soluble widely used in beverages).

Where You’ll Find It

E140 appears in foods where green coloring is desired or where natural green color is lost during processing:

Primary Food Applications:

• Beverages (MAJOR USE) – juices, energy drinks, sports drinks, mint-flavored drinks; provides bright green color
• Dairy products (MAJOR USE) – ice cream, yogurt, cheese, milk-based drinks; natural green coloring
• Baked goods – cakes, pastries, bread; green-colored items
• Confectionery and candy – mint candies, jellies, gum; provides green hue
• Canned vegetables – restores green color lost during heat processing (peas, beans)
• Savory products – pickles, olives, sauces; color restoration
• Shortening and oleomargarine – oil/fat-based products
• Sausage casings – natural green coloring
• Supplements and functional foods – dietary supplements marketed for health benefits

Regulatory scope: EU Authorization—E140 approved for use in essentially any food type. FDA—Chlorophyll approved for food coloring; recognized as safe.

Primary food application: E140 is most extensively used in beverages (where bright green color is desired without processing loss) and dairy products (where natural color appeal is marketing advantage).

Why Do Food Companies Use It?

E140’s primary function is providing natural green coloring while supporting clean label and health benefit positioning.

Food manufacturers use chlorophyll for multiple strategic advantages:

• Natural green coloring: Bright, natural green hues from nature’s most abundant pigment
• Restore lost color: Restores green color lost during heat processing of vegetables
• Clean label appeal: “Naturally-derived” positioning; supports natural/clean label marketing
• Health positioning: Antioxidant properties support functional food claims
• Already in diet: Compound already consumed through vegetables; natural familiarity
• Regulatory acceptance: FDA and EU-approved; safe status across jurisdictions
• Antioxidant benefits: Chlorophyll has documented antioxidant effects
• Green pigment alternative: Natural alternative to synthetic green dyes
• Color stability: More stable than some other natural colorings like anthocyanins
• Versatility: Available in both oil-soluble (E140i) and water-soluble (E141ii copper chlorophyllin) forms
• Consumer preferences: Natural colorings increasingly preferred over synthetic dyes
• Marketing advantage: Can market as “naturally colored” with potential antioxidant claims

Unique advantage: E140 is one of the few green food colorings available that is entirely natural AND already part of the normal human diet.

Is It Safe?

E140 is safe at food use levels and has an excellent safety record.

Regulatory approval:

• EU authorization: E140 approved as food colorant; permitted in essentially all food types
• FDA status (US): Approved as food coloring; recognized as safe
• EFSA evaluation: Evaluated; safety assessments completed (though some concerns noted regarding E140ii definition)
• JECFA status: Recognized as safe
• International approval: Approved by regulatory bodies worldwide

Safety profile:

• No acute toxicity: No documented toxicity at food use levels
• No chronic toxicity: Long-term consumption shows no harm
• No adverse effects: No documented adverse health effects in any population
• No carcinogenicity: No evidence of cancer-causing potential
• No reproductive/developmental effects: Safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding
• No genotoxicity: No evidence of genetic damage
• Natural occurrence: Already present in significant amounts in normal diet through vegetables
• Antioxidant benefits: Protective effect against oxidative stress
• Lower exposure as additive than diet: EFSA noted that exposure from E140 use as food additive is lower than exposure from normal vegetable consumption
• Child safety: Permitted in children’s foods within imposed limits
• Long history of safe use: Consumed naturally throughout human history; additive use for decades
• Multiple regulatory approvals: Recognized as safe across EU, FDA, and other jurisdictions
• Stability concerns noted: EFSA noted E140(ii) definition requires careful review and updated characterization, but this is about product definition rather than safety concerns
• No documented harm: Despite decades of use, no safety concerns have emerged

Health Benefits Beyond Coloring

E140 provides documented health benefits beyond its coloring function:

• Antioxidant properties: Chlorophyll has antioxidant effects; protects against free radicals
• Detoxification support: Studies suggest may support liver detoxification processes
• Digestive health: Traditional use and emerging research for digestive support
• Wound healing: Topical chlorophyll products used for wound healing (though less relevant to food use)
• Anti-inflammatory potential: Studies suggest possible anti-inflammatory effects
• Natural antioxidant: Chlorophyll serves protective role in plants; similar mechanisms may apply to humans

The Bottom Line

E140 (chlorophyll) is the natural green pigment found in all plants and algae, extracted from green plant sources and used as a natural food coloring in beverages, dairy products, baked goods, and other foods. It’s the exact same molecule you consume when eating spinach, kale, or other green vegetables.

E140 is approved by regulatory authorities worldwide and has an excellent safety record.

Key advantages: E140 is safe at food use levels. EU-authorized; FDA-approved; EFSA-evaluated. No documented adverse effects. Already consumed naturally in significant amounts through vegetables. Antioxidant properties documented. Entirely naturally-derived from plants. Clean label appeal. More stable than some other natural colorings.

For consumers: E140 is safe and beneficial when encountered in food products. This is a genuinely natural food coloring—the same pigment your body encounters daily in vegetables. The addition of E140 to foods simply concentrates this natural coloring where it may be lost during processing. Many products market E140 explicitly for its antioxidant benefits, making it both a coloring AND a functional ingredient.

Primary application: E140 is iconic in naturally-colored beverages (juices, energy drinks, plant-based milks) and dairy products (ice cream, yogurt) where it provides vibrant green color with marketing appeal for health benefits.

Natural perspective: E140 is among the most genuinely “natural” food additives available. It’s chlorophyll extracted directly from plants with minimal processing. It’s not synthetically manufactured but rather concentrated from natural sources. It’s the same molecule you consume when eating green vegetables, making it fundamentally compatible with human nutrition.