Brilliant Black BN

Brilliant Black BN is notable for histamine, salicylate, FODMAPs, tyramine and nickel. Clear on lactose, gluten, fructose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, sucrose and oxalates.

Yes — Brilliant Black BN is high in histamine. Brilliant black BN (E151) is a bis-azo dye - two azo groups rather than one - used for black and very dark shades in sauces, caviar substitutes and confectionery. It is an azo colour but not one of the Southampton six, so no children's warning applies. It holds no histamine of its own; the elimination protocols group it with the liberators, which is a classification rather than a measured release. The Swiss list rates it 3 of 3 and marks it L, its letter for liberators of mast cell mediators — a presumed reason rather than a measurement.

Yes — Brilliant Black BN is high in salicylate. A black azo dye used in sauces and confectionery, listed among the synthetic colours that cross-react in salicylate intolerance.

Brilliant Black BN contains only low levels of FODMAPs. Brilliant Black BN is a synthetic azo dye, and there is no fermentable carbohydrate in it.

Brilliant Black BN contains only low levels of tyramine. Brilliant Black BN is a synthetic azo dye, and it contains no tyramine. It sits higher on the histamine axis than here, which is not a contradiction: that axis counts liberators - things that make the body release its own histamine - while this one counts content only. There is no tyramine liberator, because the body stores none to release. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.