Digestoa
Additive · Colour

Chlorophylls (E140)

Chlorophylls (E140) is a colour that Digestoa rates as low concern — it's considered safe at the levels used in food.

Digestoa riskNo known risk
TypeColour
Found inbrightly coloured sweets, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, snacks and desserts

What is Chlorophylls?

Chlorophylls (E140) is a colour — added to give food a specific colour.

Is Chlorophylls bad for you?

Chlorophylls is permitted in food and Digestoa rates it as low concern. There's no strong evidence it causes harm at the levels typically used in food.

What foods contain Chlorophylls?

Brightly coloured sweets, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, snacks and desserts.

Digestoa's take

You don't need to avoid Chlorophylls. It's one of the more benign things on an ingredients list — worth knowing, not worth worrying about.

Safer swaps

Choose products coloured with natural extracts like beetroot (E162), paprika (E160c) or turmeric (E100).

Frequently asked questions

Is E140 the same as Chlorophylls?
Yes — E140 is the international additive (E-number) code for Chlorophylls.
Is Chlorophylls bad for you?
Digestoa rates Chlorophylls (E140) as low concern. It's permitted in food and considered safe at normal dietary levels.
What are the side effects of Chlorophylls?
No significant side effects are associated with Chlorophylls at the levels used in food.
What foods contain Chlorophylls?
Brightly coloured sweets, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, snacks and desserts.
How can I avoid Chlorophylls?
Check the ingredients list for "Chlorophylls" or "E140", or scan the product with Digestoa to see if it's present before you buy.

Related colour additives

Titanium dioxide (E171)Tartrazine (E102)Quinoline Yellow (E104)Sunset Yellow FCF (E110)Azorubine / Carmoisine (E122)Ponceau 4R (E124)

Risk ratings reflect Digestoa's editorial assessment synthesising EFSA/IARC opinions and peer-reviewed research. Informational only — not medical advice.