Proposal to modify the List of Permitted Food Colours (Jagua (genipin-glycine) blue)

Notice of Proposal – Lists of Permitted Food Additives
Reference Number: PFAA-2603
May 14, 2026

Summary

Jagua (genipin-glycine) blue is not currently authorized for use as a food additive in foods sold in Canada. As a result of the review of a food additive submission, Health Canada is proposing to authorize the use of jagua (genipin-glycine) blue as a food colour as shown in Table 1.

You can submit comments on this proposal until July 28, 2026 (see the section “Consultation” for instructions).

Background

The food additives authorized for use in Canada are set out in the Lists of Permitted Food Additives. These lists are incorporated by reference into Division 16 of the Food and Drug Regulations.

A person, company or organization (referred to as the petitioner) may ask Health Canada to authorize a new food additive use by filing a food additive submission.  

Issue

Health Canada received a food additive submission requesting that jagua (genipin-glycine) blue be authorized for use as a food colour in various foods at maximum levels of use that vary according to the food. The food categories and corresponding maximum levels of use set out in the table below capture the uses that had been requested.

Jagua (genipin-glycine) blue is manufactured by adding the amino acid glycine to the juice from unripe jagua (Genipa americana) fruit. The blue colour of jagua (genipin-glycine) blue is primarily due to a blue polymer that is the main product of the reaction between genipin (present in the fruit juice) and glycine.

Jagua (genipin-glycine) blue is intended to be used to impart a blue colour to foods or to be mixed with other permitted food colours to impart hues of green, purple, or brown to foods.

Rationale

Health Canada completed a premarket safety and efficacy assessment of jagua (genipin-glycine) blue for its requested use. The assessment considered potential dietary exposure to jagua (genipin-glycine) blue and other food safety aspects (allergenicity, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, and toxicology) and technical information pertaining to efficacy.

The outcome of Health Canada’s evaluation supports authorizing jagua (genipin-glycine) blue for use as food colour as set out in Table 1.

Proposed modification to the list

Health Canada proposes to authorize the requested use of jagua (genipin-glycine) blue by adding the new item J.1 and its corresponding paragraphs to the List of Permitted Food Colours, as shown in Table 1.

Other relevant information

Food additive specifications

Food additives authorized for use in Canada must meet the specifications set out in the Table of Food Additive Specifications, if they exist.

Food additives which do not have specifications in this table must meet the specifications, if any, set out in the latest edition of one of the following documents:

• Food Chemicals Codex^{Footnote 1}
• Combined Compendium of Food Additive Specifications^{Footnote 2}

International status

Jagua (genipin-glycine) blue is permitted for use as a color additive in the United States^{Footnote 3} and as a colour in the international Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA).^{Footnote 4} The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated the safety of jagua (genipin-glycine) blue as a food additive, concluding “there is no safety concern for jagua (genipin-glycine) blue as a food additive at the proposed uses and use levels.”^{Footnote 5} At this time, the European Commission has not yet authorized the use of jagua (genipin-glycine) blue as a food additive in Europe.^{Footnote 6}

Implementation and enforcement

Modifications to the Lists of Permitted Food Additives, such as the List of Permitted Food Colours, come into force on the day they are published on Health Canada’s website.

You can consult the Notices of Proposal and Notices of Modification web page to stay informed of these modifications, or you can register for Health Canada's Consultation and Stakeholder Information Management System to be automatically notified when they are issued.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act and its associated regulations with respect to foods.

Consultation

The consultation on the proposed modification to the List of Permitted Food Colours (shown in Table 1) is open for 75 days from the date of publication of this notice.

The results of the consultation will be communicated in a notice of modification published at the same time the List of Permitted Food Colours is modified if the proposal moves forward.

Useful links

Health Canada:
Food Additives: Overview

Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
Permitted synonyms for food additives

Notes