Information › Ingredients › Colourings
Food colourings: E100 to E199 on a Dutch label
Updated on 4 November 2026
At a glance
- Kind
- Ingredient, not an allergen
- Also as
- kleurstof, E1
- Without colourings
- 34,536 products
- Contain it
- 7,388 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
What are colourings?
Colourings give a product its colour: natural ones such as beetroot red or paprika extract, and synthetic ones such as tartrazine (E102). On the label they appear as ‘colouring’ with the name or the E number, E100 to E199. Six of them (E102, E104, E110, E122, E124 and E129) must carry a warning that they may affect activity and attention in children.
Recognise
On a Dutch label as
- kleurstof
- E1
Not colourings
- colouring foods such as beetroot or carrot concentrate (not an additive)
We look for these Dutch words in the ingredient list itself, also between brackets. If in doubt, read the pack.
Shopping
Per shelf where colourings are common (the shops’ own Dutch shelf names)
Examples without colourings
- Verkade Lange nekkenVerkade · 150 gDirk € 2,99Hoogvliet € 3,32Albert Heijn € 3,39Jumbo € 3,39PLUS € 3,39Contains: Barley, Cow's milk, Gluten, Lactose, Milk, Soy, WheatMay contain traces: Egg, Tree nuts
- Calvé KnoflooksausCalvé · 320 mlDirk € 1,99Hoogvliet € 1,99Albert Heijn € 2,29Jumbo € 2,29PLUS € 2,29Contains: Cow's milk, Egg, Lactose, Milk, Mustard
- Jean Bâton Truffel mayonaiseJean Bâton · 135 mlDirk € 2,59Hoogvliet € 2,59Albert Heijn € 2,69Jumbo € 2,69PLUS € 2,69Contains: Egg, Mustard
- OriginalRivella · 1500 mlHoogvliet € 1,69Dirk € 2,79Albert Heijn € 2,99Jumbo € 2,99PLUS € 2,99Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk
- Croma Olijfolie vloeibaarCroma · 450 mlDirk € 4,19Hoogvliet € 4,32Albert Heijn € 4,39Jumbo € 4,39PLUS € 4,39Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk, Soy
- Katja ApekoppenKatja · 255 gAlbert Heijn € 1,99Dirk € 2,05Hoogvliet € 2,29Jumbo € 2,65PLUS € 2,65May contain traces: Cow's milk, Milk
All 34,536 products without colourings (in Dutch)
Which supermarket has the most without?
On the shelves where colourings are common: the share of products without it.
- Albert Heijn64%1,253 of 1,956
- Hoogvliet63%916 of 1,451
- Jumbo61%1,628 of 2,654
- Dirk60%1,150 of 1,930
- PLUS59%2,116 of 3,613
Brands without colourings
On the shelves where colourings are common, none of their products names it.
- Ben & Jerry's 40
- Upfront 37
- Karvan Cevitam 35
- Katja 30
- Spa 26
- Karvan Cévitam 22
- Lotus 21
- Lipton 21
- Hero 21
- AH Biologisch 20
- BIO+ 19
- Delicata 18
What to look for in the shop
- Read the ingredient list: it is there by its Dutch name or its E number, the same in every language.
- Watch compound ingredients between brackets: it is sometimes in there.
Good to know
Recently without colourings (8)These products named colourings on an earlier label, and no longer do.
What are colourings mostly in?Most often in the shelves ‘Zacht snoep’ (57% contains it), ‘Frisdranken’ (57% contains it) and ‘Snoep’ (56% contains it).
Most often in the shelves ‘Zacht snoep’ (57% contains it), ‘Frisdranken’ (57% contains it) and ‘Snoep’ (56% contains it). There is choice without it there too: 101 products on ‘Zacht snoep’, for example.
How do colourings read on a Dutch label?As kleurstof and E1.
As kleurstof and E1. We look for those words in the ingredient list itself, also in compound ingredients between brackets.
How many products contain colourings?7,388 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 18%.
7,388 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 18%. The other 34,536 do not name it.
Which supermarket has the most products without colourings?On the shelves where colourings are common: Albert Heijn (64% without), Hoogvliet (63% without), Jumbo (61% without), Dirk (60% without) and PLUS (59% without).
On the shelves where colourings are common: Albert Heijn (64% without), Hoogvliet (63% without), Jumbo (61% without), Dirk (60% without) and PLUS (59% without).
A choice of your own, not an allergy
Colourings are not an allergen: whether you eat or use them is up to you. We show what the ingredient list says, so you can choose. Recipes change: if in doubt, the pack in your hand decides.
More ingredients under Ingredients; allergens under Allergies.
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