Delphinidin
A safe, natural antioxidant pigment.
- Category
- Colours
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
A natural blue-red anthocyanin pigment that gives color to plants like pansies and cabernet grapes.
How it is used in food
Delphinidin supplies the blue-purple end of the anthocyanin range, colouring blueberries, bilberries, blackcurrants, aubergine skin and Concord grapes. It is one of the strongest antioxidants in the group thanks to its extra hydroxyl group, and it is a natural-origin route to purple and blue shades that are otherwise hard to achieve without synthetic dyes.
Commonly found in- Natural food coloring
Health and safety
Completely safe and functions as an antioxidant in the human body.
Covered by EFSA's 2013 opinion on anthocyanins (E163), which raised no safety concern at permitted use levels. Laboratory work on delphinidin's anti-inflammatory and vascular effects is extensive, but nearly all of it uses concentrations far above what circulates in blood after eating berries, so human health claims remain unproven.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Not approved | Not on the EU authorised list of food additives (Annex II). |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Permitted | Authorised for food use by the FDA (often GRAS for standard additives). |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E163b
Worth knowing
It is named after the delphinium flower, and its structure explains a rule of thumb in plant pigment chemistry: the more hydroxyl groups on the B-ring, the bluer the pigment. Delphinidin has three where cyanidin has two — which is also why blue roses were impossible to breed conventionally, since roses lack the enzyme needed to make it.
Conclusion
A safe, natural antioxidant pigment.
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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