E131Patent blue V

E131 is patent blue V, a synthetic blue colour. In food it gives a blue colour to sweets, jellies, drinks and cake decorations.

Code: E131 · INS 131
Group: Colour

In VietnamNot on Vietnam's list of permitted additivesNot on Vietnam's list of permitted additives (Circular 24/2019); it may be used only in a product whose declaration is registered with the Vietnam Food Administration

Risk level on the Yenzo Scalelow?Based on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy

How E131 appears on labels

IngredientsIllustrative example

Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, colour (131), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).

colour (131)colour 131E131INS 131

Questions about Patent blue V

What is E131 (patent blue V)?

It is patent blue V, a synthetic triarylmethane blue colour. It is added to food to give a blue colour.

Is patent blue V harmful?

In 2013 EFSA set an ADI of 5 mg/kg body weight per day for patent blue V (E 131); the SCF had earlier set 15 mg/kg. EFSA noted that at the maximum permitted levels of use, intake by high consumers among toddlers and children is above the ADI, while at the maximum reported use levels the estimates are below the ADI for all population groups.

Is E131 permitted in Vietnam?

It was not found. Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT (consolidated text 09/VBHN-BYT), the list of additives permitted in food, has no row with INS 131, and neither does Appendix 2B.

Other colours

E127Erythrosinemoderate E128Red 2Ghigh E129Allura red ACmoderate E130Indanthrene blue RShigh E132Indigotine (indigo carmine)low E133Brilliant blue FCFlow

See all colours →

Updated 21 October 2026

How Yenzo scores

Sources (3)

Open Food Facts additives taxonomy (Yenzo's table cites no EFSA opinion for this code). Open Food Facts additives taxonomy, https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/blob/main/taxonomies/additives.txt (entry en:e131)
Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 1
EFSA Journal (2013). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Patent Blue V (E 131) as a food additive

Information only, not medical advice. The risk level is the additive's class in Yenzo's open scoring method, based on the cited source.