Ingredient Index · E142

Is Green S (E142) banned in Europe?

Banned in US only

A third reversed case: Green S has never been authorized for food in the US, so it is effectively banned there. The EU permits it as E142, and it is common in European mint sweets and peas.

E-number: E142CAS: 3087-16-9 Also seen as: Green S, E142, Acid Green 50, CI 44090

What the EU does

Permitted. Green S is authorized as the EU food color E142, used to give a green shade to mint sweets, canned peas, sauces, and desserts. It carries an acceptable daily intake and, like the other synthetic colors, has been through EFSA re-evaluation.

It is one of the colors that helps explain why some European sweets look more vividly green than their US counterparts: the US simply does not have this dye on its approved list, so American manufacturers reach for other colorants or blends.

Citation E142 authorized under Reg (EC) No 1333/2008 (EU food additives), Annex II; EFSA re-evaluation of Green S (E142), 2010

What the US does

Not approved. Green S has never been authorized for use in food, drugs, or cosmetics in the United States, which means it cannot legally color American food. It is also prohibited as a food additive in Canada, Japan, and Norway.

So while it is not the subject of a famous ban, it is unavailable to US food makers by default, another example of the positive-list system quietly keeping a European color out.

Citation US: Green S not listed among FDA-approved color additives (21 CFR Parts 74 and 82); also prohibited in Canada, Japan, and Norway

Products that commonly contain it

Because it is not a US food color, you would meet it mainly abroad, in:

European mint sweets and chewing gum
Canned or processed peas and vegetables
Green sauces, desserts, and drinks
Some imported European candy

What to look for on a label

On a European label you can spot it directly:

Look for "E142" or "Green S" in the ingredients
In the US it will not appear; green shades come from other colors or blends
Bright-green sweets abroad are the most likely place to find it

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 Green S banned in Europe?

No. The EU permits Green S as the food color E142. It is the US, along with Canada and Japan, that never authorized it, so it is effectively banned there.

Where would I run into it?

Most often in European mint sweets, canned peas, and green desserts or sauces. American products use different colorants.

Is it dangerous?

The EU sets an acceptable daily intake for it and has re-evaluated it. Its US absence reflects the positive-list system, not a specific safety scandal.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed August 17, 2026 · How we assign statuses