Color Guide for Food Supplements

Europe
Capsugel’s Global Footprint Ensures
Certainty of Supply Create a dose of excitement with colors
Choose from 50 selected colors to create a unique brand image
Our customers span the world, and so does Capsugel. Each year we produce close to
To work together
200 billion capsules for more than 4,000 customers in over 100 countries. Our vast Regulatory context
production capacity helps us effectively respond to changing marketplace demands no
matter where our customers are located – providing you with the peace of mind that your
or learn more, European Union legislation on colors for use in foodstuffs is given in:
dosage-form requirements will be met rapidly and with world-class quality. contact us at • Regulation (EC) N° 1333/2008 and current amendments on food additives, which harmonizes the use of food
additives in foods, including food supplements, in the European Union,
Capsugel operates 24x7 in manufacturing locations, state-of-the-art Product
Development Centers and multiple business offices around the world. capsugel.com • Regulation (EC) N° 1129/2011 establishes a union list of food additives, including colorants, the level at
which they can be used and the foodstuffs to which they can be added (including food supplements).
• Regulation (EC) N° 231/2012 lays down specifications for food additives, including specific purity
requirements concerning colors for use in foodstuffs.
Boston
Morristown Massachusetts Bornem Applicability for Capsugel Empty Capsules intended
New Jersey
Belgium Sagamihara
Japan
for Food supplements
1. Colorants meet the purity criteria as per Regulation 231/2012.
Delhi Suzhou 2. Below table indicates the applicable limits for solid food supplements as per Regulation 1129/2011 -
India China category 17.1.

Hong Kong
China
Rio de Janerio Colorant name E number Specified combined Colorant labeling
Brazil Strasbourg maximum level requirement in food
France supplements
Greenwood
South Carolina Colmar Tartrazine E 102 300 mg/kg Name or E number of the
France Bangkok Azorubine E 122 300 mg/kg color(s), “may have an adverse
Thailand effect on activity and attention
Allura red AC E 129 300 mg/kg in children” (Article 24
Puebla Ploërmel
France Jakarta Regulation (EC) N° 1333/2008)
Mexico Indonesia West Ryde Patent blue V E 131 300 mg/kg
Australia
Indigotine E 132 300 mg/kg
Brilliant blue FCF E 133 300 mg/kg
*Q
 uantum satis:
Brilliant black BN E 151 300 mg/kg Name or E number No maximum level
Chlorophyllin Copper complex E 141 Quantum satis* of the color(s) specified, however
colorings matters
Caramel E 150c Quantum satis*
shall be used
Titanium dioxide E 171 Quantum satis* according to good
manufacturing
Iron oxides E 172 Quantum satis*
Our global presence, industry-leading capsule products, and innovative drug delivery technologies practices
201211001-HGC

translate into shorter go-to-market time for Capsugel customers.

www.capsugel.com www.capsugel.com
Choose

E 150c
Capsugel Opaque Capsugel Transparent

E 172

E 172

E 172
E 102

E 122

E 129

E 132

E 133

E 171
E 131

E 151

E 141
Capsugel Pantone Capsugel
codes colors codes colors
code code description

a color  Labelling
additional
labeling
Labelling
additional
labeling
01.312
03.000
447c
306c
BLACK OP.C312
LIGHT BLUE TR
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 

for your
44.000 43.000 04.000 639c LIGHT BLUE OP                      
04.007 2995c LT BLUE OP.C007                      
11.044 05.367 311c POWDER BLUE OP.367                      

Hard
01.312 06.018 7509c STD BROWN TR.C018                        
09.025 483c CHOC.BROWN OP.C025                    
18.084 11.044 421c LT GREY OP.C044                      

Gelatin
18.172 13.306 7489c STD GREEN TR.C306                      
15.301 344c LIGHT GREEN TR.C301                      
18.230 16.305 7716c BLUISH GREEN TR.C305                      

capsules!
17.147 16.305 17.042 465c LT GREEN OP.C042                    
17.147 339c LT GREEN OP.C147                    
17.361 15.301
17.361 556c LIGHT GREEN OP.C361                    
17.441 13.306 17.441 7488c LIGHT GREEN OP.C441                    
18.084 349c DARK GREEN OP.C084                      
Select a color 18.347
18.172 555c DARK GREEN OP.C172                    
and get its 17.042 18.230 342c DARK GREEN OP.C230                    
18.347 7495c DARK GREEN OP.C347                    
composition. 38.025 39.007
20.006 7413c LT ORANGE TR.C006                      
38.063 39.314 20.309 144c LT ORANGE TR.C309                      
21.035 157c MEDIUM ORANGE OP.C035                    
42.322
Capsugel has made every effort to 22.027 484c SWEDISH ORANGE OP.C027                      
ensure the accuracy of this color 41.019 39.309 23.304 190c PINK TR.C304                        
guide for the food supplements 24.052 204c PINK OP.C052                      
46.350 06.018
market in Europe. 24.093 702c PINK OP.C093                  
46.351 24.312 1785c PINK OP.C312                      
Nevertheless, we recommend that
36.093 20.309 24.351 214c PINK OP.C351                      
careful consideration is given to your
29.324 5275c STD PURPLE OP.C324
final color choice so that only defined 21.035 20.006
/ permitted colors are used according 29.334 5135c STD PURPLE OP.C334
to the product market and countries 36.304 32.364 1797c SCARLET OP.C364                
of destination. 33.334 690c MAROON OP.C334
36.330
36.093 7411c CARAMEL OP.C093                      
A cross check by your regulatory 22.027 36.304 7515c CARAMEL OP.C304                  
department, as well as with the 36.330 1675c CARAMEL OP.C330                    
09.025
appropriate authorities in the countries 37.024 7520c FLESH OP.C024                      
of application of the product, is 37.024 37.063 486c FLESH OP.C063                      
advised in order to ensure that 38.025 7401c IVORY OP.C025                      
37.063
products are formulated and labeled in 38.063 7506c IVORY OP.C063                      
conformity with current regulations. 24.052 23.304 39.007 155c STD YELLOW TR.C007                        
39.309 142c STD YELLOW TR.C309                        
24.093
To help you in your selection, the colors 39.314 461c STD YELLOW TR.C314                        
are presented in two groups: opaque 24.312 41.019 142c RICH YELLOW OP.C019                      
colors, recommended to mask content, 42.322 102c STD YELLOW OP.C322                      
24.351
and transparent colors. 43.000 - NATURAL TR                          
32.364 44.000 - WHITE OP                        
In each group:
33.334 46.350 1485c LIGHT ORANGE OP.C350                    
• left column colors need to be labeled
46.351 7410c LIGHT ORANGE OP.C351                    
with name or E number of the color(s), 29.324 51.337 5285c AMETHYST OP.C337                    
• right column colors needs to be labeled 29.334 53.345 7463c DARK BLUE OP.C345                    
with name or E number of the color(s), 53.356 7683c DARK BLUE OP.C356
“may have an adverse effect on activity 51.337
and attention in children” (Article 24 53.356
Regulation (EC) N° 1333/2008). E 102 Tartrazine E 132 Indigotine E 150c Caramel E 172 Yellow iron oxide
04.000 E 122 Azorubine E 133 Brilliant blue FCF E 171 Titanium dioxide
Other colors may be available or
04.007 E 129 Allura red AC E 151 Brilliant Black BN E 172 Black iron oxide
developed upon request.
E 131 Patent blue V E 141 Copper-chlorophyllin E 172 Red iron oxide
Some capsules may be sensitive to heat 05.367 03.000
Capsugel code: Reference used by Capsugel to identify the colors. Pantone code: selected from the Pantone Formula Guide Solid Coated. Pantone codes are as close as
and light, and will require appropriate possible to the original colors and therefore remain indicative only. Real samples may be provided on request for some selected colors.
53.345
product packaging.