E151: Brilliant Black BN

What is E151 (Brilliant Black BN)?

Brilliant Black BN (E151), also known as Black PN or Food Black 1, is a synthetic black azo dye used as a food coloring. It is one of the six dyes studied in the landmark 2007 Southampton research — the "Southampton Six" — which demonstrated links between these colorings and hyperactivity in children. Brilliant Black BN is banned or not approved in many countries including the USA, Canada, and Japan, though it remains permitted in the EU with a mandatory warning label.

Source and Production

Like all azo dyes, Brilliant Black BN is synthesized chemically:

1. Starting Materials: Aromatic amines derived from petroleum or coal tar 2. Tetrazo Process: This dye uses a more complex tetrazo (double diazonium) coupling to achieve the black chromophore 3. Multiple Coupling Steps: Four azo linkages create the deep black color 4. Sulfonation: Multiple sulfonate groups provide water solubility 5. Salification and Drying: Converted to tetrasodium salt for stability

The resulting product is a black powder used to give foods dark brown to black shades.

Common Uses in Food

E151 is used to produce black and very dark brown colorings in:

• Licorice products
• Brown and black sauces
• Certain confectionery and sweets
• Caviar substitutes and seafood products
• Some alcoholic beverages
• Packet dessert mixes
• Certain snack foods

Health and Safety

Southampton Six Evidence

Brilliant Black BN was included in the 2007 McCann et al. study published in The Lancet, which found that a mixture of artificial colors including E151, combined with sodium benzoate (E211), significantly increased hyperactivity in both 3-year-old and 8-9-year-old children. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial — among the highest levels of scientific evidence.

Additional Health Concerns

• Allergic reactions: As an azo dye, E151 can cause allergic reactions in aspirin-sensitive individuals
• Asthma exacerbation: May worsen respiratory symptoms in asthmatic individuals
• Chromosome damage: Some in vitro studies reported genotoxic effects, though these were at high concentrations
• Gut effects: Animal studies have suggested effects on the intestinal epithelium at high doses

Regulatory Status

• European Union: Permitted as E151 with mandatory warning: "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children"
• United States: Not approved by the FDA
• Canada: Not permitted
• Japan: Not permitted
• ADI: 1 mg/kg body weight/day (relatively low, reflecting safety concerns)

Identification on Labels

Brilliant Black BN may appear as:

• E151
• Brilliant Black BN
• Black PN
• Food Black 1
• C.I. 28440

Alternatives

Natural black and dark colorings include:

• Carbon Black (E153): Vegetable carbon from charred plant material (limited approval)
• Squid ink: Natural black coloring for seafood products
• Caramel colors (E150a-d): Natural dark brown/black colors from heated sugars
• Naturally dark-colored ingredients (dark cocoa, activated charcoal where permitted)

Conclusion

E151 (Brilliant Black BN) is one of the most strongly implicated synthetic food dyes in terms of behavioral effects in children. Its inclusion in the Southampton Six study, combined with bans across multiple major food regulatory jurisdictions, makes it one of the more concerning food colorings still permitted in the EU. Consumers, especially those with children, should be cautious and look for the mandatory EU warning label, and choose naturally colored alternatives wherever possible.