Iron oxides and iron hydroxides (E172)

Iron oxides and iron hydroxides (E172) is one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as ultra-processed (NOVA group 4).

What it is and why it counts

Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.

Cosmetic additives

NOVA calls these additives "cosmetic": they change how a product looks, feels or tastes rather than keeping it safe to eat. Their presence is one of the two defining signs of an ultra-processed food.

Function

Colour: Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.

Functional class definitions from the EU food additives regulation, via Open Food Facts.

More about iron oxides and iron hydroxides (E172) on Wikidata

Where it turns up

Iron oxides and iron hydroxides (E172) appears in 27 of the 40,000 products on this site (0%).

Prepared meat cuts substitutes 3 of 18 products
Vegetarian sausages 3 of 84 products
Spreads 2 of 2,112 products
Vegan sausages 2 of 18 products
Bacon substitutes 1 of 11 products
Bonbons 1 of 193 products

Products containing iron oxides and iron hydroxides (E172)

How the NOVA classification works