Colour Retention Agent
Also known as: colour adjunct, colour fixative, colour stabilizer, maintain color, color retention
'Colour retention agent' is an umbrella term covering many specific additives with widely varying safety profiles - from benign ascorbic acid to higher-concern sulfites (allergen) and nitrites (potential N-nitrosamine formation). Without ingredient-specific identification, moderate concern is warranted because some agents in this class trigger allergies or have nitrosamine concerns.
What it is
A generic functional class for additives that preserve or stabilize the color of food (e.g., ascorbic acid, sulfites, nitrites, sodium erythorbate).
Maintains or stabilizes color in processed foods.
Why it's flagged
- May include sulfites (allergen) or nitrites (potential N-nitrosamine formation) in some formulations
What regulators actually say
"'Colour retention agents' are substances which stabilise, retain or intensify the colour of a food."
"Status list provides regulatory status of food additive substances - many color retention agents are listed individually."
Regulatory status
United States — FDA
Specific agents regulated individually under 21 CFR; class label not used in FDA labeling
European Union — EFSA
Color retention is a recognized functional class under EU Regulation 1333/2008 Annex I
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