What is E125?

Complete guide to understanding E125 (Scarlet GN)

The Critical Answer

E125 is not a food additive you will encounter in modern food products.

It has been banned from food use in the European Union and the United States, and is currently prohibited for ingestion in both jurisdictions.

What Was It?

E125, also known as Scarlet GN or GN Scarlet, was a synthetic azo dye derived from coal tar.

It produced a bright scarlet red color and was water-soluble, making it suitable for use in beverages and aqueous foods.

The dye was used historically in candies, soft drinks, fruit preserves, and other foods requiring red coloring—most famously in maraschino cherries.

It was never a natural colorant; it was entirely chemically synthesized.

Where It Was Used (Historically)

E125 appeared in (pre-1976 USA, earlier in some EU countries):

• Soft drinks and beverages
• Maraschino cherries (1965-1976 USA exception)
• Candies and confectionery
• Fruit preserves and jams
• Jellies and desserts

Current availability: E125 is completely absent from modern food products globally. The only foods that might contain it are museum exhibits or decades-old preserved products from before the bans.

Why Was It Banned?

E125 was banned due to CARCINOGENIC CONCERNS—potential cancer risk.

The FDA formally banned E125 (Scarlet GN) from food use on September 22, 1976, citing “mounting safety concerns.”

The critical action: In 1965, the FDA had granted a limited exception allowing E125 to be used exclusively for coloring maraschino cherries, on the theory that cherries were “mainly decorative and not a foodstuff.” However, as health concerns accumulated and toxicological evidence accumulated, this exception was repealed and the dye was completely banned for food ingestion.

The European Union also does not permit E125 as a food additive, reflecting a similar regulatory assessment of safety concerns.

Current permitted use (USA only): E125 is still allowed in the USA for external cosmetics and topical pharmaceuticals (drugs applied to skin), but absolutely NOT for any food or ingested drug use.

The Historical Maraschino Cherry Exception

Interestingly, E125 received special regulatory treatment in the USA for maraschino cherries from 1965-1976.

The FDA reasoned that since cherries were mainly used as decorative garnishes (on ice cream sundaes, cocktails, etc.) rather than consumed as a primary food, the risk of ingesting the dye was minimal.

However, as toxicological evidence mounted regarding carcinogenic potential, the FDA reconsidered this logic and completely repealed the exception in 1976, removing E125 from all food applications.

Why Is It Still Listed in E-Number References?

You might wonder why E125 still appears in food additive lists if it’s banned.

Reasons:

• Historical documentation: E-number ranges include all additives, approved and banned, for completeness
• Prevention of illegal use: Regulators maintain lists of banned substances to catch violations
• Consumer education: People need to know what NOT to consume
• International reference: Different countries ban different dyes at different times

The Bottom Line

E125 (Scarlet GN) is a completely banned synthetic red azo dye that you will not find in any legally-produced food anywhere in the world.

Key facts:

• Banned in the USA since September 22, 1976
• Not permitted in the European Union
• Banned due to potential carcinogenic effects
• Once used in maraschino cherries, soft drinks, and other foods
• Still allowed only in external cosmetics/topical drugs (USA) but never for food
• If encountered on a food label, indicates either a museum artifact, mislabeling, or illegal manufacturing

This is one of the most stringent bans in the food additive world—reflecting serious health concerns that led both the FDA and EU to completely prohibit it for food use.