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Iron Oxides and Hydroxides (E172)

Coloring
Generally Safe

Essentially rust. A safe, natural mineral dye giving meats and salmon pastes red/yellow shades.

Details

Used as highly unreactive, heat-stable pigments. It passes inertly out of the body without being absorbed into the blood like nutritional iron.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Wait, is this real rust?

Chemically, yes (iron oxide). But it's hyper-purified laboratory grade, free of heavy metals.

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