erythrosine

From Ancient Greek ἐρυθρός (eruthrós, “red”) +‎ -ine, equivalent to erythro- +‎ -s- +‎ -ine.

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erythrosine (countable and uncountable, plural erythrosines)

1. (chemistry) tetraiodo-fluorescein, a cherry-pink fluorone used as a food colouring, in printing inks, and as a biological stain, a dental plaque disclosing agent and a radiopaque medium.
   • 2021 October 14, Jack Guy, “UK bakery banned from using sprinkles which are legal in the US”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     The sprinkles had the red food coloring E127, or erythrosine. E127 is only permitted for use in cocktail cherries and candied cherries in the UK and the EU, according to a statement from West Yorkshire Trading Standards sent to CNN Thursday.

   • 2024 December 7, Kaitlin Sullivan, “FDA may finally ban artificial red dye from beverages, candy and other foods”, in NBC News‎^[2]:

     In 1990, the FDA banned Red No. 3, also known as erythrosine, from cosmetics and topical drugs under the Delaney Clause, because the chemical was shown to be carcinogenic at high doses in tests on lab rats.

   • 2025 March 29, Kristen Rogers, “Over half of US states are trying to eliminate food dyes. Here’s what you can do now”, in CNN‎^[3]:

     Red dye No. 3: red 3, FD&C Red No. 3 or erythrosine

• E127 when used as a food colouring