Paprika and turmeric oleoresins

What this is

These oleoresins sit between spice extract and color additive: they carry natural pigments—capsanthin and capsorubin in paprika, and curcuminoids in turmeric—plus some flavor constituents. U.S. rules list paprika oleoresin and turmeric oleoresin as color additives exempt from batch certification and allow them for foods generally at good manufacturing practice levels, subject to standards of identity. JECFA set an acceptable daily intake for paprika extract used as a color based on total carotenoids and concluded estimated color-use exposure was below that level. For curcumin, the main coloring component of many turmeric preparations, JECFA set an acceptable daily intake of 0–3 mg/kg body weight per day; EFSA’s refined exposure work found possible exceedances in toddlers and children under some high-use scenarios, while adults were lower. The main toxicology concern is not proven harm from normal food-color use. It is a specific exposure-quality issue: high-dose turmeric oleoresin rodent studies showed gut irritation, thyroid changes, and equivocal tumor signals, and specifications control residual extraction solvents and trace metals. FDA is also reviewing petitions to remove three chlorinated extraction solvents from the related U.S. listings.

Safety Review

The health areas reviewed when evaluating an ingredient. This does not mean the ingredient is proven to cause harm.

JECFA’s paprika color assessment found estimated intake below its acceptable daily intake and reported no adverse effects in 90-day and two-year rat studies at high dietary concentrations. For turmeric/curcumin, JECFA set an acceptable daily intake of 0–3 mg/kg body weight per day, while NTP’s much higher-dose feed studies reported gastrointestinal irritation, thyroid-cell hyperplasia in female mice, and equivocal—but not clear—tumor evidence. EFSA exposure work for curcumin found possible acceptable-daily-intake exceedances for toddlers and children in some high-use scenarios, while adults were lower. The FDA solvent reviews concern extraction-solvent permissions, not a finding that these colors are unsafe at normal food-use levels.

No additional safety information is available for this ingredient yet.