YenzoWhat is E140 (chlorophylls)?
It is chlorophylls and chlorophyllins, the green pigments found in plant leaves, used as colours to give a green shade.
E140Chlorophylls and chlorophyllins
E140 is chlorophylls and chlorophyllins, the green pigments found in plant leaves. In food they give a green colour to sweets, ice cream, drinks and cakes.
Did you know? Chlorophylls are natural constituents present at relatively high concentrations in a number of foods; the additive E 140 may be obtained from sources such as grass, lucerne or nettle, which are not regarded as regular edible plant materials for humans.
- Code
- E140 · INS 140
- Group
- Colour
In Vietnam✓ PermittedOn the list of permitted additives — Circular 24/2019, Appendix 1
Risk level on the Yenzo Scalevery lowBased on the Open Food Facts additives taxonomy
How E140 appears on labels
IngredientsIllustrative example
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, colour (140), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
colour (140)colour 140E140INS 140On Vietnamese labels: Clorophylls
Questions about chlorophylls and chlorophyllins
Is E140 permitted in Vietnam?
Yes. Chlorophylls (INS 140) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, with the function colour.
Other colours
E131Patent blue VlowE132Indigotine (indigo carmine)lowE133Brilliant blue FCFlowE141Copper complexes of chlorophyllslowE142Green SlowE143Fast green FCFlow
See all colours →Updated 21 October 2026
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:e140)
- Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 1
- EFSA Journal (2015). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of chlorophylls (E 140(i)) as food additives