Pelargonidin
A safe natural extract from red fruits.
- Category
- Colours
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
A natural orange-red anthocyanin pigment found in pelargoniums, raspberries, and strawberries.
How it is used in food
Pelargonidin produces the bright orange-red to scarlet shades found in strawberries, raspberries, radishes and kidney beans, filling the part of the anthocyanin palette closest to synthetic red dyes such as Allura Red. Like its relatives it is an antioxidant, and strawberry-derived pelargonidin glycosides are among the more readily absorbed anthocyanins.
Commonly found in- Natural food coloring
Health and safety
Safe, natural, and acts as an antioxidant.
Included in EFSA's 2013 anthocyanin re-evaluation, which found no safety concern for E163 at authorised levels. Human studies show pelargonidin-3-glucoside from strawberries appears in plasma and urine within hours of eating, making it one of the few anthocyanins with reasonably well-characterised absorption.
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
- E163d
Worth knowing
It is named after the geranium genus Pelargonium. With only one hydroxyl group on its B-ring — the fewest in the family — it is the reddest and least blue of the anthocyanidins, which is why no amount of breeding turns a strawberry violet.
Conclusion
A safe natural extract from red fruits.
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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