E162 - Beetroot red
By the Daat team · Updated October 30, 2026
E162 is beetroot red, a natural colour taken from beetroot.
The pink in strawberry yoghurt, the red in ice cream, and sometimes the "bleed" in plant-based burgers. It does not like heat, so it suits baked goods less well.
In Daat’s catalog we found E162 in 64 of 16,831 products (0.4%), mostly in chocolate and sweets.
E162 at a glance
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Beetroot red |
| Also listed as | betanin |
| Function | Colour |
| Origin | Plant, mineral or synthetic |
| Vegan / vegetarian | Yes / Yes |
Is E162 vegan?
Yes. E162 has no animal source, so it suits both vegans and vegetarians.