Ingredient Index · E151

Is Brilliant Black BN banned in Europe?

Banned in US only

Reversed case. Brilliant Black BN (E151) is an azo dye permitted in EU foods within limits. It is not approved in the US, so it cannot be used in American food.

E-number: E151CAS: 2519-30-4 Also seen as: Brilliant Black BN, Black PN, E151

What the EU does

Permitted, with limits. Brilliant Black BN, also known as Black PN, is authorized in the EU under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as E151 for a defined set of uses. EFSA re-evaluated it and kept it on the authorized list with an acceptable daily intake.

It is an azo dye, part of the color family that attracts extra attention over sensitivity in some people, but it was not among the six colors that trigger the EU warning label, and it remains legal in Europe within its approved uses.

Citation Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (E151); EFSA re-evaluation of Brilliant Black BN (acceptable daily intake retained)

What the US does

Not approved. Brilliant Black BN is not on the FDA's list of color additives approved for food, so it cannot legally be used to color food in the US. American products use approved colors or color blends to reach similar dark shades.

As with Brown HT, this is a reversed case: the EU permits the color under conditions, while the US does not allow it at all.

Citation Not listed among FDA-approved color additives for food (21 CFR Parts 74 and 73)

Products that commonly contain it

Brilliant Black BN is relevant mainly in:

Some EU sauces, sweets, and decorative food uses
Certain imported European confectionery and snacks
Not US-made food, where the color is not approved

What to look for on a label

On an EU label, Brilliant Black BN is easy to spot:

Look for "Brilliant Black BN," "Black PN," or "E151" in the ingredient list
On US products you will not see it; approved colors appear instead
Azo-dye-sensitive shoppers can simply avoid the E151 listing

Or skip the squinting: paste the whole ingredient list into our checker and it flags everything in our database. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.

Frequently asked questions

Is Brilliant Black BN banned in Europe?

No. Brilliant Black BN (E151) is a permitted EU food color within set uses and has an EFSA acceptable daily intake.

Can it be used in US food?

No. It is not on the FDA's approved color-additive list, so it cannot legally color food in the US.

Is it the same as Black PN?

Yes. Brilliant Black BN and Black PN are the same color, listed in the EU as E151.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed October 1, 2026 · How we assign statuses