Patent Blue V
Other names Patent Blue V (E131), E131
Patent Blue V: moderate in histamine. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)Moderate
Patent blue V (E131) is a triarylmethane dye, not an azo dye, and it is used in small amounts for blue and green shades in confectionery. It is outside the Southampton group and carries no children's warning, but it stays on pseudoallergen elimination lists, where colours are removed as a class rather than one by one. None of this is about histamine content: a colour carries none. Colours are on this page because the pseudoallergen-free elimination diet removes them as a class, and that diet is itself unproven in double-blind trials.
Sources· 2
- Zuberbier et al., EAACI/GA2LEN urticaria guideline
- EFSA re-evaluations of food colours (2009-2016)
- TyramineNone
- SalicylateNone
Patent Blue V and Brilliant Blue FCF are triarylmethane dyes, not azo dyes, and nothing in that structure resembles salicylic acid — and it is that resemblance that puts tartrazine and the azo reds on this axis. The distinction is structural, not a measurement: no salicylate assay of a colourant is published.
- SucroseNone
- FODMAPsNone
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- NickelNone
- OxalatesNone
- GlutenNo
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
React to Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)? Check these too
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does Patent Blue V affect?
Patent Blue V is notable for histamine. Clear on tyramine, salicylate, sucrose, FODMAPs, lactose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, fructose, nickel, oxalates and gluten.
Does Patent Blue V contain histamine?
Patent Blue V contains moderate levels of histamine. Patent blue V (E131) is a triarylmethane dye, not an azo dye, and it is used in small amounts for blue and green shades in confectionery. It is outside the Southampton group and carries no children's warning, but it stays on pseudoallergen elimination lists, where colours are removed as a class rather than one by one. None of this is about histamine content: a colour carries none. Colours are on this page because the pseudoallergen-free elimination diet removes them as a class, and that diet is itself unproven in double-blind trials. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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