INS 100 is curcumin, the bright yellow-orange pigment from turmeric (Curcuma longa). On packs it is used as a natural food colour, often where brands want to avoid synthetic dyes. It is generally vegan and is permitted by FSSAI for specified food categories.
INS 100 is curcumin, the bright yellow-orange pigment from turmeric (Curcuma longa). On packs it is used as a natural food colour, often where brands want to avoid synthetic dyes.
Brands use it because it gives a warm yellow shade that suits Indian palettes, is recognised as natural by consumers, and works across dairy, savoury, and bakery products. It is one of the few colours on Indian packs that comes from a familiar kitchen ingredient.
INS 100 commonly shows up on Indian packets in these categories:
Curcumin is extracted from turmeric rhizomes by solvent extraction. No animal product is used in its manufacture.
FSSAI: Permitted by FSSAI as a natural food colour under Schedule I of the FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011 for specified food categories with category-specific limits.
JECFA: ADI 0-3 mg/kg body weight allocated at the 61st JECFA (2003) and confirmed at the 63rd JECFA (2004), based on a 2-generation rat reproductive toxicity study with NOAEL of 250-320 mg/kg bw and a 100-fold safety factor.
On packets, in recipes, and in conversation, INS 100 is also called:
Last verified: 2026-04-29.