E142

What is E142?

Green S — a synthetic green food colour permitted in Australia/NZ and the EU, but not approved for use in the United States food supply.

Quick answer

Green S (E142) is a synthetic triarylmethane dye used to colour foods green to bluish-green. It is permitted in Australia, New Zealand and the EU. It is not on the FDA's list of colour additives approved for US food. EFSA's 2010 re-evaluation kept the Scientific Committee on Food's Acceptable Daily Intake of 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day; JECFA previously withdrew a temporary ADI and has not allocated a permanent ADI. Goodnessly rates it Avoid.

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Read the FAQ →

What is Green S?

Green S is a synthetic triarylmethane dye (also known historically as Food Green S, Acid Brilliant Green BS, or lissamine green). It is produced entirely through industrial chemical synthesis. It is chemically different from Fast Green FCF (E143 / FD&C Green No. 3), which is the green colour more commonly encountered on US-market labels.

What's it used for?

Green colouring in confectionery, desserts and ice cream
Colouring in soft drinks, cordials and some jelly products
Used in some sauces, canned peas and processed vegetables in permitted markets
Occasionally used in bakery decorations where a green shade is wanted

Where you'll find E142 on the shelf

It turns up in green sweets, drinks and some processed vegetable products — more often on AU/EU-style labels than on US imports.

Lollies & confectionery

Soft drinks & cordials

Desserts & jelly

Some canned peas & sauces

Is Green S safe? What the research says

Green S sits in an awkward regulatory gap: still authorised in Australia/NZ and the EU, never approved for US food use, and without a permanent JECFA Acceptable Daily Intake.

Region	Status	What this means
AU/NZ Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ)	Permitted	Must be declared by name or number (142). Permitted under the Food Standards Code for specified food categories; no hyperactivity warning label is required (Green S is not one of the Southampton Six colours).
EU European Union (EFSA)	Permitted; ADI 5 mg/kg	Authorised as E142. EFSA's 2010 re-evaluation concluded there was no reason to revise the Scientific Committee on Food's Acceptable Daily Intake of 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. The Panel noted a lack of adequate genotoxicity data, balanced in its view by negative carcinogenicity and reproductive-toxicity findings. At maximum use levels, high-percentile children's intake estimates exceeded the ADI under a Tier 2 scenario, but not under refined Tier 3 estimates.
US United States (FDA)	Not approved	Green S is not on the FDA's list of colour additives approved for food. US-market green colouring more often uses Fast Green FCF (FD&C Green No. 3) or blends of other approved colours — a different substance from E142.

JECFA established a temporary ADI of 25 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day in 1970, then withdrew it in 1975, and has not allocated a permanent ADI to Green S. That international gap sits alongside EFSA's retained 5 milligrams per kilogram figure and the lack of US food approval.

📰 Recent developments Last checked September 2026

EFSA 2010 re-evaluation: retained the SCF Acceptable Daily Intake of 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day; noted inadequate genotoxicity data balanced by negative carcinogenicity and reproductive-toxicity studies.
JECFA ADI status: JECFA withdrew its temporary ADI in 1975 and has not since allocated a permanent ADI for Green S — an unusual gap for a still-authorised EU colour.
US food supply: Green S remains off the FDA's approved food-colour list; products formulated for the US market do not rely on E142 for green shades.

This section is checked periodically rather than continuously — if you're reading this well after the date above, it's worth confirming nothing has changed before citing it.

Who might want to limit or avoid it

Anyone comparing AU/EU and US-market products, given Green S is not approved for US food use
Parents of children who eat a lot of brightly coloured sweets or drinks containing synthetic greens, given EFSA's Tier 2 child-exposure notes at maximum use levels
Anyone who prefers to minimise synthetic dye intake generally, especially colours without a permanent JECFA ADI

Goodnessly rates E142 Avoid. It is permitted in Australia/NZ and the EU, but its lack of US food approval, the absence of a permanent JECFA ADI, and EFSA's own notes on genotoxicity-data gaps and child exposure under maximum-use assumptions place it in our highest-caution category.

Additives 1

E142 – Green S

Synthetic green dye, rated Avoid by Goodnessly. Not approved for use in the United States food supply.

How to spot it on a label

E142 must be declared clearly. Look out for:

Green S
142 or E142
Colour (142)
Food Green S / Acid Brilliant Green BS (less common synonyms)

Most common in green confectionery, drinks and some processed vegetable products on AU/EU-style labels.

Related additives

Frequently asked questions

What is Green S (E142) made from?

Green S is a synthetic triarylmethane dye manufactured through industrial chemical synthesis. It is not derived from plants, insects or minerals.

Is Green S the same as Fast Green FCF?

No. Green S (E142) is a different substance from Fast Green FCF (E143 / FD&C Green No. 3). Fast Green FCF is the green colour more often seen on US-approved labels; Green S is used in AU/EU markets and is not FDA-approved for food.

Why isn't Green S approved in the United States?

The FDA's list of colour additives approved for food does not include Green S. US manufacturers who want a green shade typically use other approved colours such as Fast Green FCF (FD&C Green No. 3) or blends. That is a regulatory listing difference, not an EFSA ban.

Does Goodnessly rate E142 as safe, caution or avoid?

Goodnessly rates E142 (Green S) as Avoid. It is permitted in Australia/NZ and the EU, but its lack of US food approval, the absence of a permanent JECFA ADI, and EFSA's notes on data gaps place it in our highest-caution category.

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