Ingredient Index · E155

Is Brown HT banned in Europe?

Banned in US only

Reversed case. Brown HT (E155) 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: E155CAS: 4553-89-3 Also seen as: Brown HT, E155, Chocolate Brown HT

What the EU does

Permitted, with limits. Brown HT is authorized as a food color in the EU under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, listed as E155 for a defined set of uses such as certain chocolate-flavored baked goods. EFSA re-evaluated it and set an acceptable daily intake, keeping it on the authorized list.

As an azo dye, Brown HT falls in the family that drew extra scrutiny over possible effects on some sensitive people, but it was not among the six colors tied to the EU warning label, and it remains legal in Europe within its approved uses.

Citation Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (E155); EFSA re-evaluation of Brown HT (acceptable daily intake retained)

What the US does

Not approved. Brown HT is not on the FDA's list of color additives approved for use in food, so it cannot legally be used to color food in the US. American food manufacturers reach for other browns, often blends of approved colors or caramel color, instead.

This is one of the reversed cases the "banned in Europe" framing usually misses: here it is the US that does not allow the color, while Europe permits it under set conditions.

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

Products that commonly contain it

Brown HT is relevant mainly in:

Some EU chocolate-flavored cakes and baked goods
Certain imported European sweets and snacks
Not US-made food, where the color is not approved

What to look for on a label

On an EU label, Brown HT is easy to spot:

Look for "Brown HT" or "E155" in the ingredient list
On US products you will not see it; approved browns or caramel color appear instead
Azo-dye-sensitive shoppers can simply avoid the E155 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 Brown HT banned in Europe?

No. Brown HT (E155) is a permitted EU food color within set uses and has an EFSA acceptable daily intake.

Can it be used in US food?

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

Is it one of the warning-label dyes?

No. It is an azo dye, but not among the six colors that carry the EU attention-and-activity warning label.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed October 1, 2026 · How we assign statuses