Carmoisine (Azorubine, Food Red 3, E122)
Carmoisine (Azorubine, Food Red 3, E122)
Food-Grade Synthetic Monoazo Colourant for Industrial, Laboratory & Regulated Applications
Product Identification
Catalog Number: ASD-637
CAS Number: 3567-69-9
C.I. Name: Acid Red 14
Colour Index Number: 14720
E Number: E122
EINECS Number: 222-657-4
Dye Class: Monoazo dye
Product Overview
Carmoisine, also known as Azorubine or Food Red 3 (E122), is a food-grade synthetic monoazo colourant widely used in regulated food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and laboratory applications where permitted by applicable legislation. It is supplied as a dark red to maroon powder and produces a clear, bright red solution when dissolved in water.
The colourant is valued for its high colour strength, excellent water solubility, and stability under typical processing and formulation conditions. These properties make Carmoisine suitable for controlled colouring, formulation development, quality-control work, and analytical applications requiring consistent and reproducible colour performance.
Ausamics Carmoisine is supplied with consistent batch quality and comprehensive analytical documentation to support professional manufacturing and laboratory use.
Synonyms & Identifiers
Azorubine
Food Red 3
Acid Red 14
Chromotrope FB
C.I. 14720
Key Features & Benefits
Food-grade quality with defined purity specifications
Intense red shade with high chromatic strength
Freely soluble in water, producing clear solutions
Good stability under normal formulation conditions
Consistent batch-to-batch performance
Supplied with Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Typical Applications
Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Colouring of beverages, confectionery, bakery products, dairy formulations, sauces, and processed foods, in accordance with FSANZ, Codex Alimentarius, and relevant international regulations, including maximum permitted levels.
Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Manufacturing
Colouring of capsules, syrups, topical formulations, creams, and personal care products, subject to applicable regulatory frameworks.
Laboratory & Technical Use
Colourant in culture media and microbiological reagents
Visual tracer in formulation, diffusion, and process studies
Quality-control and analytical reference applications
Chemical & Functional Principle
Carmoisine is an anionic monoazo dye containing sulfonate functional groups that provide high water solubility and uniform dispersion in aqueous systems. Its conjugated azo chromophore absorbs visible light efficiently, producing a stable and intense red colour suitable for controlled colouring applications.
Typical Quality Parameters
Total Dye Content: ≥ 86–87 %
Loss on Drying (135 °C): ≤ 13 %
Water Insoluble Matter: ≤ 0.09 %
Ether Extracts: ≤ 0.2 %
Subsidiary Dyes: ≤ 0.17 %
Dye Intermediates: ≤ 0.16 %
Unsulfonated Aromatic Amines: ≤ 0.01 %
Heavy Metals (as Pb): ≤ 40 ppm
Lead (Pb): ≤ 1.3 ppm
Arsenic (As): ≤ 1 ppm
(Exact specifications are provided in the batch-specific Certificate of Analysis.)
Physical Properties
Appearance: Dark red to maroon powder
Solubility: Freely soluble in water
Odour: Odourless
Solution Colour: Bright red
Storage & Stability
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light
Keep container tightly closed when not in use
Protect from moisture and contamination
Shelf life: Up to 3 years under recommended storage conditions
Regulatory & Compliance Information
Approved as Carmoisine (E122) under EU food additive regulations
Permitted for food use in Australia and many international markets, subject to regulatory limits
Subject to Codex Alimentarius maximum permitted levels (MPL)
Not approved for food use in certain jurisdictions (e.g. United States)
Regulatory status may vary by country and intended application
Supplied with batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Regulatory and compliance documentation available upon request
Intended Use
Supplied as a food-grade colourant for use in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, laboratory, and technical applications where permitted.
Final product suitability, use levels, and regulatory compliance must be determined by the end user in accordance with FSANZ, Codex Alimentarius, and other applicable national regulations.
Not intended for therapeutic or medicinal use.
Quality & Supply Assurance
Manufactured and packed under controlled conditions
Consistent batch-to-batch quality
Technical support provided by Ausamics Life Science
Customs & Trade Information
HS / AHECC Code: 3204.19.00
Synthetic organic colouring matter