Use of colourings in seaweed salads: legal requirements and implications
2026-06-02
Following recent communication from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, it has become clear that the use of certain colourings in seaweed salads is not in line with current legislation. As this topic is governed by European regulation, the implications extend beyond a single country and are relevant for producers and processors across the European seaweed sector.
To support our members, we have outlined the key legal framework below. This section summarises the applicable rules under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and clarifies how these apply specifically to seaweed salads, including the use of colourings and the limitations of the carry over principle.
We encourage all members working with seaweed-based food products to review this information carefully and assess their current practices where relevant.
Legal requirements:
Rules have been established for the addition of additives to foodstuffs. The most important Regulation concerning the addition of additives to foodstuffs is Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. This Regulation can be used to determine whether a specific additive may be added to a food product.
Seaweed salads fall under food category 04.2.4.1 (fruit and vegetable preparations, excluding compote), see Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, Part D. Colourings may be added to foods within this category, however the exceptions and restrictions listed in Annex II, Part E for category 04.2.4.1 apply.
In practice, various colourings are currently being added to seaweed salads, including E100, E101, E103, E133 and E141. According to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, these colourings may not be added to seaweed salads. It is possible that other non permitted colourings are also being used.
In some cases, colourings may be present in a food product as a result of carry over, see Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. In certain food products, however, the presence of an additive, or specifically a colouring, via carry over is not permitted. In Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, Part A, table 2, food products are listed in which the presence of a food colouring is not allowed under the “carry over” principle of Article 18(1)(a). Under number 20 it states:
Fruits, vegetables (including potatoes) and mushrooms, canned, bottled or dried; processed fruits, vegetables (including potatoes) and mushrooms.
Seaweed salads fall under ‘processed fruits and vegetables’. Therefore, colourings may also not be present in seaweed salads via the carry over principle.
Food products that do not comply with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 may not be placed on the market (see Article 5)
