Build my profileBuild my profile

Colour

E151 (brilliant black BN): what it is, its sources, vegan or not

E151 is brilliant black BN, a colour. E151 is made in a lab. Vegan and vegetarian profiles get Fits you.

By Bravoora teamUpdated Sources checked 4 sourcesHow we check

Fits you

for a vegan profile

E151=made in a lab

What is E151?

E151 (brilliant black BN) is a colour, an additive that adds or restores colour in a food. Not permitted in food in the United States.

What is E151 made from?

E151 is made in a lab.

  • Made in a lab

Is E151 vegan?

Fits you. E151 is made in a lab. Nothing from an animal.

What the app says to each profile, and the reason it shows.

VeganFits youE151 is made in a lab. Nothing from an animal.
VegetarianFits youE151 is made in a lab. Nothing from an animal.

What other names does E151 have on a label?

On a label, E151 can also appear as “INS 151”, “Colour (151)”, “Colour (E151)”, “Brilliant black BN” or “Black PN”.

Any of these on a pack means E151. The checker reads them all.

E151E 151E-151INS 151Colour (151)Colour (E151)Brilliant black BNBlack PN

What would change the answer for E151?

For E151, only the ingredient list itself: a code the camera cannot read gets Needs one more scan, and the app never guesses a code it cannot see.

Sources: EU, US and Codex additive rules

Where additives are listed and approved. Bravoora reads the source and the diet; it does not rate the hazard.

  1. EU Regulation 1333/2008 on food additives (the E-number list)
  2. EU Regulation 1169/2011, Annex II: the allergen sources a label must name
  3. US FDA: Food Additive Status List
  4. FAO/WHO Codex: General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) online

Names and classes cross-checked with Open Food Facts (Open Database License).

Create a website profile with the things you avoid and the people you check for.

Build my profile

Save and edit your profile on this website. App transfer is not available yet.