VEGETABLE CARBON | Vegetable Carbon Black E153 | Santacolor.com

 

The E153 is a food additive, which the European Union (EU) and Canadian authorities have approved. However, it is prohibited in the United States, as the FDA does not approve its use. The E153 has a common name known as vegetable carbon.  It is also known as carbon black, vegetable black or carbo medicinalis vegetabilis.This is produced from green bamboo, refined from high-temperature carbonization process. 

Its production is through steam activation. Steam activation is achieved by charring vegetable fibres. Raw materials like nutshells, peat, wood, and cellulose residues are used to achieve this process.They are ground into small particles before adding glycerin or glucose for ease of use in food.  This contains fine particles of carbonized vegetable material. The carbon black powder is particularly fine. Its color shade ranges from grey to black, depending on the amount used. 

Benefits Of Vegetable carbon natural color 

This product is utilized as a natural coloring agent in food products and frozen drinks.The product is insoluble in water, which makes it suitable as a filtering aid or a clarifying agent. This, however, minimizes its usage in drink and food products. 

Common Uses 

It is rarely utilized alone in food as it offers an intense black color. This color is suitable for specific varieties of confectionery like desserts or ice. Nevertheless, it can be used as a shading agent with other colours, hence increased color intensity. 

This product has common uses like confectionery, decorations, cheese coating, cosmetics,pharmaceuticals, bakery products, and black caviar substitute.Products such as jam crystals, jelly crystals, and liquorice are among the food and drinks come under its category .An excellent example of vegetable carbon in drinks is where Alex Kratena at London’s Artesian bar incorporated vegetable ash on his Dream to a dream cocktail.

Characters of Vegetable Carbon

• INS No. 153
• E 153
• EINECS No. 231-153-3
• CAS 7440-44-0
• Vegetable black
• Activated vegetable carbon
• Carbon black (vegetable sources)