Turmeric and Curcumin (E 100)

Last reviewed October 19, 2026

In plain words: Turmeric gives its yellow color through curcumin. Three related products are used: ground turmeric, turmeric oleoresin, and purified curcumin, which is the color E 100.

What the evidence review says

Turmeric and its yellow pigment curcumin are used to color foods. We found no notable concern that specification-grade curcumin color is linked with cancer or genetic damage. EFSA estimated that some children eating a lot of colored foods could reach or exceed its acceptable daily intake. Separately, some ground turmeric spice has been found adulterated with lead chromate to brighten it; that is spice fraud, not the purified color.

No notable concern that compliant curcumin color is carcinogenic or genotoxic. EFSA kept an ADI of 3 mg/kg bw/day. At maximum permitted levels, some European children can reach or exceed that ADI; a 2014 refined estimate put high-intake toddlers and children around the ADI, with exceedance in one survey each. A separate and more serious problem is fraud in ground turmeric spice: lead chromate pigment has been added to brighten the powder. That is contamination of spice, not a property of specification-grade curcumin color, but a scanner should not treat every 'turmeric' hit as the purified color.

• Source: Forsyth JE et al., Environ Res, 2019 · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2019.108722

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This page is for general education. It is not medical advice and does not replace advice from your doctor, pediatrician, allergist or registered dietitian. Research changes; we review these pages when new evidence or rules come out. Last reviewed October 19, 2026.