What is Lycopene, synthetic used for in food?

It is listed as a colour — the role Codex and the EU assign it. This page shows every function each regulator records, with the citation for each.

Where is Lycopene, synthetic permitted?

Of the seven regulators this site reads, the EU, Great Britain and the Codex standard permit it. Each permission is for named foods at named levels, not a blanket one; the table on this page gives them with citations.

Is Lycopene, synthetic vegan?

Yes. Lycopene, synthetic is not derived from animals, and is suitable for vegetarians. This page says what it is made from and how.

Lycopene, synthetic

LYCOPENE, SYNTHETIC · E160d · 160d(i) · Lycopene · i Likopen sintetiku · i) LICOPENO SINTÉTICO · I) Lycopène synthétique · i) SINTETINIS LIKOPENAS · i) SYNTEETTINEN LYKOPEENI · i) Syntetický lykopen · i) SYNTHETISCH LYCOPEEN · i) Sünteetiline lükopeen · i) Синтетичен ликопен · ii Likopen mit-tadam aħmar · ii) LICOPENO PROVENIENTE DE TOMATE VERMELHO · ii) LIKOPENAS IŠ RAUDONŲJŲ POMIDORŲ · ii) LYCOPEEN UIT RODE TOMATEN · II) Lycopène de tomates rouges · ii) Lykopen ze zralých rajčat · ii) LYKOPÉN Z ČERVENÝCH RAJČIAKOV · ii) PUNAISISTA TOMAATEISTA SAATAVA LYKOPEENI · ii) Punase tomati lükopeen · ii) Ликопен от червени домати · iii Likopen minn Blakeslea trispora · iii) BLAKESLEA TRISPORA -SIENESTÄ SAATAVA LYKOPEENI · iii) Blakeslea trispora′st saadav lükopeen · iii) LICOPENO PROVENIENTE DE BLAKESLEA TRISPORA · iii) LIKOPENAS IŠ BLAKESLEA TRISPORA · iii) LYCOPEEN UIT BLAKESLEA TRISPORA · III) Lycopène issu de Blakeslea trispora · iii) Lykopen z Blakeslea trispora · iii) Ликопен от Blakeslea trispora · Licopen · Licopen din tomate · Licopen obținut din Blakeslea trispora · Licopen sintetic · Licopene · LICOPENE OTTENUTO DA BLAKESLEA TRISPORA · LICOPENE OTTENUTO DA POMODORI ROSSI · LICOPENE SINTETICO · Licopeno · Licopeno de Blakeslea trispora · Licopeno de tomates rojos · Licopeno sintético · Likopen · LIKOPEN IZ BLAKESLEA TRISPORA · LIKOPEN IZ CRVENIH RAJČICA · LIKOPEN IZ GLJIVE BLAKESLEA TRISPORA · LIKOPEN IZ RDEČIH PARADIŽNIKOV · LIKOPEN OTRZYMYWANY Z BLAKESLEA TRISPORA · LIKOPEN OTRZYMYWANY Z CZERWONYCH POMIDORÓW · LIKOPEN SYNTETYCZNY · Likopenas · Likopene · Likopin · Likopin Blakeslea trisporából · Likopin piros paradicsomból · Likopēns · Likopēns no Blakeslea trispora · Likopēns no sarkanajiem tomātiem · Lycopeen · Lycopen · LYCOPEN FRA BLAKESLEA TRISPORA · LYCOPEN FRA RØDE TOMATER · Lycopene · LYCOPENE FROM BLAKESLEA TRISPORA · LYCOPENE FROM RED TOMATOES · Lycopin · Lycopin aus Blakeslea trispora · Lycopin aus roten Tomaten · Lykopeeni · Lykopen · Lykopen från Blakeslea trispora · Lykopen från röda tomater · Lükopeen · SINTETIČNI LIKOPEN · SINTETSKI LIKOPEN · Sintētiskais likopēns · SYNTETISK LYCOPEN · Syntetiskt lykopen · SYNTHETIC LYCOPENE · Synthetisches Lycopin · Szintetikus likopin · ΛΥΚΟΠΕΝΙΟ ΑΠΟ BLAKESLEA TRISPORA · ΛΥΚΟΠΕΝΙΟ ΑΠΟ ΚΟΚΚΙΝΕΣ ΤΟΜΑΤΕΣ · Λυκοπένιο · ΣΥΝΘΕΤΙΚΟ ΛΥΚΟΠΕΝΙΟ · Ликопен

INS 160d(i)

Listed as a colour by Codex and the EU.

Listed as colours (EU, Codex)

European Union: Colours — Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, Part B, 1. Colours (consolidated text 02008R1333-20260818)
Codex Alimentarius: Colour — CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 160d(i)

This is lycopene made by chemical synthesis rather than extracted from tomatoes. The molecule is the same; the route, and therefore the specification it must meet, is not.

Where it is and isn’t permitted

Status of Lycopene, synthetic by jurisdiction. Every jurisdiction this site covers is listed, including those where the substance does not appear.
Jurisdiction	Status	Scope and limits	Citation
Australia and New ZealandFood Standards Australia New Zealand	No listed food uses foundThis site has not matched this substance to any food use on this jurisdiction’s list of authorised food additives. A food additive may be used only in foods that list names. Flavourings, enzymes, processing aids and added nutrients are regulated separately and do not appear on it.Related listing with permitted uses here: Lycopene (E160d). This site cannot tell whether that listing covers this exact form.
CanadaHealth Canada	No listing matchedHealth Canada’s lists name additives without E or INS numbers, so this site matches them by exact name. A substance listed there under a name this site does not recognise has no row here.
European UnionEuropean Commission / EFSA	Permitted, with conditions	31 food categories highest permitted level 500 mg/l Show every food category 1.4 flavoured fermented milk products including heat-treated products — 30 mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/l. 1.7.3 edible cheese rind — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. 1.7.5 processed cheese — 5 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 5 mg/kg. only flavoured processed cheese. 12.2.2 Seasonings and condiments — 50 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 50 mg/kg. 12.5 Soups and broths — 20 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 20 mg/kg. 12.6 Sauces — 50 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 50 mg/kg. excluding tomato-based sauces. 12.9 Protein products excluding products covered in category 1 8 — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. only meat and fish analouges based on vegetable proteins. 13.2 Foods for special medical purposes as defined by Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 (excluding products from food category 13.1.5.) — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. 13.3 Total diet replacement for weight control food as defined by Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. 14.1.4 Flavoured_drinks — 12 mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 12 mg/l. excluding dilutable drinks. 14.2.4 Fruit wine and made wine — 10 mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 10 mg/l. excluding wino owocowe jakościowe. 14.2.7.3 Aromatised wine-product cocktails — 10 mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 10 mg/l. 14.2.8 Other alcoholic beverages including mixtures of alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages and other alcoholic beverages based on distilled alcohol with alcoholic strength by volume less than 15 % — 30 mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/l. 15.1 Potato- cereal- flour- or starch-based snacks — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. 15.2 Processed nuts — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. 16 Desserts excluding products covered in category 1 3 and 4 — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. 17.1 food supplements supplied in a solid form excluding food supplements for infants and young children’, — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. 17.2 food supplements supplied in a liquid form excluding food supplements for Infants and young children — 30 mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/l. 18.2 Meal replacement for weight control as referred to in Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. 3 edible ices — 40 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 40 mg/kg. 4.2.5 jam jellies and marmalades and similar products — 10 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 10 mg/kg. except chestnut puree. Note 31: Maximum individually or in combination with E 120, E 142, E 160d and E 161b. 4.2.5.2 Jam, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut puree as defined by Directive 2001/113/EC — 10 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 10 mg/kg. except chestnut purée. 4.2.5.3 other similar fruit or vegetable spreads — 10 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 10 mg/kg. except crème de pruneaux. Note 31: Maximum individually or in combination with E 120, E 142, E 160d and E 161b. 5.2 Other confectionery including breath freshening micro-sweets — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. 5.3 chewing gum — 300 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 300 mg/kg. 5.4 Decorations, coatings and fillings, except fruit-based fillings covered by category 4.2.4 — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. except red coating of hard-sugar coated chocolate confectionery. 6.6 Batters — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. only batters for coating. 7.2 Fine bakery wares — 25 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 25 mg/kg. 8.3.3 Casings and coatings and decorations for meat — 500 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 500 mg/kg. only decorations and coatings except edible external coating of pasturmas. 9.2 Processed fish and fishery products including molluscs and crustaceans — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. only fish and crustacean paste, pre-cooked crustaceans, surimi, smoked fish. 9.3 fish roe — 30 mg/kgAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30 mg/kg. except Sturgeons' eggs (Caviar).	Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex IIand 30 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-18
Great BritainFood Standards Agency / Food Standards Scotland	Permitted, with conditions	29 food categories highest permitted level 300 mg/kg or mg/l Show every food category 1.4 Flavoured fermented milk products including heat-treated products — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 1.7.3 Edible cheese rind — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 1.7.5 Processed cheese — 5 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 5. only flavoured processed cheese. 12.2.2 Seasonings and condiments — 50 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 50. 12.5 Soups and broths — 20 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 20. 12.6 Sauces — 50 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 50. excluding tomato-based sauces. 12.9 Protein products, excluding products covered in category 1.8 — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. only meat and fish analogues based on vegetable proteins. 13.2 Dietary foods for special medical purposes defined in Directive 1999/21/EC (excluding products from food category 13.1.5) — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 13.3 Dietary foods for weight control diets intended to replace total daily food intake or an individual meal (the whole or part of the total daily diet) — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 14.1.4 Flavoured drinks — 12 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 12. excluding dilutable drinks. 14.2.4 Fruit wine and made wine — 10 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 10. Excluding wino owocowe markowe. 14.2.7.3 Aromatised wine-product cocktails — 10 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 10. 14.2.8 Other alcoholic drinks including mixtures of alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks and spirits with less than 15 % of alcohol — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 15.1 Potato-, cereal-, flour- or starch-based snacks — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 15.2 Processed nuts — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 16 Desserts excluding products covered in categories 1, 3 and 4 — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 17.1 Food supplements supplied in a solid form, excluding food supplements for infants and young children — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 17.2 Food supplements supplied in a liquid form, excluding food supplements for infants and young children — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 3 Edible ices — 40 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 40. 4.2.5.2 Jam, jellies and marmalades and sweetened chestnut puree as defined by Directive 2001/113/EC — 10 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 10. except chestnut purée. Note (31): Maximum individually or in combination with E 120, E 142, E 160d and E 161b. 4.2.5.3 Other similar fruit or vegetable spreads — 10 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 10. except crème de pruneaux. Note (31): Maximum individually or in combination with E 120, E 142, E 160d and E 161b. 5.2 Other confectionery including breath refreshening microsweets — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. 5.3 Chewing gum — 300 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 300. 5.4 Decorations, coatings and fillings, except fruit based fillings covered by category 4.2.4 — several limitsAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. (1) ML 30: except red coating of hard-sugar coated chocolate confectionery; (2) ML 200: only red coating of hard-sugar coated chocolate confectionery. 6.6 Batters — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. only batters for coating. 7.2 Fine bakery wares — 25 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 25. 8.3.3 Casings and coatings and decorations for meat — several limitsAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. (1) ML 500: only decorations and coatings except edible external coating of pasturmas; (2) ML 30: only edible casings. 9.2 Processed fish and fishery products including mollusks and crustaceans — several limitsAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. (1) ML 10: only salmon substitutes based on Theragra chalcogramma , Pollachius virens and Clupea harengus; (2) ML 30: only fish and crustacean paste, pre-cooked crustaceans, surimi, smoked fish. 9.3 Fish roe — 30 mg/kg or mg/lAuthorised under E 160d, Lycopene. ML = 30. except Sturgeons’ eggs (Caviar).	Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (as at 28 June 2024), under E 160dand 28 further provisionsretrieved 2026-10-18
JapanConsumer Affairs Agency	No listing matchedThis site imports only Japan’s list of designated additives (Appended Table 1 to the Regulations for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act), matched by English name. Existing additives, natural flavouring agents and ordinary foods used as additives are permitted outside that list and are not imported, so an empty row does not show that Japan does not permit the substance.
South KoreaMinistry of Food and Drug Safety	No listing matchedThis site imports Part III of South Korea’s Standards and Specifications for Food Additives, matched by CAS number, then INS number, then exact name. Mixed preparations and sanitisers are not imported, and an entry whose identifiers disagreed with a page’s is held for review, so an empty row does not show that South Korea does not permit the substance.Related listing with permitted uses here: Lycopene, tomato. This site cannot tell whether that listing covers this exact form.
United StatesFood and Drug Administration	Not listedDoes not appear on this jurisdiction’s permitted list. That is not the same as being prohibited.
Codex AlimentariusCodex Alimentarius Commission / JECFA	Permitted, with conditions	1 food category highest permitted level 100 mg/kg Note 676 Some Codex Members allow the use of additives with colour function in this food category while others limit these additives to certain products.	CXS 192-1995 Table Three, INS 160d(i)and 1 further provisionretrieved 2026-09-07

How much is permitted

A listing usually limits the quantity as well as the food. Only one of the forms that takes is a figure: quantum satis and good manufacturing practice permit the amount the technological effect requires and no more, which is a limit rather than the absence of one. Figures below are the range across every food category this page is listed in, and categories differ between regulators — see how much is permitted.

European Union	5 mg/kg – 500 mg/kg	31 numeric limit
Great Britain	5 mg/kg – 300 mg/kg	26 numeric limit, 3 several limits
Codex Alimentarius	100 mg/kg	1 numeric limit, 1 GMP

What it is made from

Built by chemical synthesis from petroleum-derived intermediates using the same carotenoid chemistry as synthetic beta-carotene.

Vegan
Vegetarian

Compare other additives on the dietary indexes.

Every name it appears under

88 recorded names. A label may use any of them.

E number

E160d

INS number

160d(i)

As it appears in regulation

Lycopene

Other names

LYCOPENE, SYNTHETIC

Hazard reference values

Values set by assessing bodies. A body that has not set a value is not listed here.
Type	Value	Population	Assessed by	Opinion
ADI	0.5 mg/kg bw/day	—	JECFA	2006

Evidence and how bodies read it

Studies, and the differing conclusions regulators drew from them, are curated rather than machine-read, and none has been written for this substance yet.

Common questions

Assembled from what is above, in the words the questions are usually asked in. Each answer is the same statement the relevant section makes, with the same citations behind it.

What is INS 160d(i)?: INS 160d(i) is Lycopene, synthetic. This is lycopene made by chemical synthesis rather than extracted from tomatoes. The molecule is the same; the route, and therefore the specification it must meet, is not.
What is Lycopene, synthetic used for in food?: It is listed as a colour — the role Codex and the EU assign it. This page shows every function each regulator records, with the citation for each.
Where is Lycopene, synthetic permitted?: Of the seven regulators this site reads, the EU, Great Britain and the Codex standard permit it. Each permission is for named foods at named levels, not a blanket one; the table on this page gives them with citations.
Is Lycopene, synthetic vegan?: Yes. Lycopene, synthetic is not derived from animals, and is suitable for vegetarians. This page says what it is made from and how.

Sources for this page

eu retrieved 2026-10-18
gb retrieved 2026-10-18
gsfa retrieved 2026-09-07

Full licence terms and publisher details on Sources. How this page is built and updated: Method.

Machine-readable: a JSON record of this additive is given on request —how to ask for access.

Follow changes to Lycopene, synthetic:Atom feed — regulatory events, and any change the weekly refresh detects in its provisions.