YenzoWhat is E160d (lycopene)?
It is lycopene, a red pigment. Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT lists three forms with the function colour: synthetic lycopene (160d(i)), lycopene from tomato (160d(ii)) and lycopene from Blakeslea trispora (160d(iii)).
E160dLycopene
E160d is lycopene, the red pigment of tomatoes, watermelon and gac fruit. In food it gives a red to pink colour.
Did you know? According to EFSA (2010), about 50 to 65% of the total lycopene people eat comes from natural sources, not from the additive (excluding lycopene added as a novel food ingredient).
- Code
- E160d · INS 160d
- 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 E160d appears on labels
IngredientsIllustrative example
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, colour (160d), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
colour (160d)colour 160dE160dINS 160d
INS sub-codes
INS 160d(i)Lycopene, synthetic
INS 160d(ii)Lycopene, tomato
INS 160d(iii)Lycopene, Blakeslea trispora
Sources: Codex CXG 36-1989, Class Names and the International Numbering System (INS)
Questions about lycopene
Is lycopene permitted in Vietnam?
Yes. All three forms, 160d(i), 160d(ii) and 160d(iii), are listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, with the function colour.
Other colours
E160Carotenoids (type not printed)very lowE160aCarotenesvery lowE160bAnnatto, bixin, norbixinlowE160cPaprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubinvery lowE160eBeta-apo-8'-carotenallowE160fEthyl ester of beta-apo-8'-carotenoic acidmoderate
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:e160d)
- Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 1
- EFSA Journal (2010). Revised exposure assessment for lycopene as a food colour