Iron oxides and iron hydroxides (E172)
Updated October 2, 2026
Iron oxides and iron hydroxides (E172) is a food additive in the “colors” group. It appears in 1,141 products in our database, 15 of them sold in the US.
Quick facts
- Also known as
- E172
- E-number
- E172
- Function
- Colors
- Found in
- 1,141 products (15 sold in the US)
Foods that commonly contain Iron oxides and iron hydroxides
Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Iron oxides and iron hydroxides.
Popular products with Iron oxides and iron hydroxides
e NOVA 4 
e NOVA 4 
d NOVA 4 
a NOVA 4 
e NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
e NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 
NOVA 4 Iron oxides and iron hydroxides-free alternatives
Popular products from the same categories that don't list Iron oxides and iron hydroxides and score Nutri-Score A–C.
c NOVA 4 
b NOVA 4 
c NOVA 4 
b NOVA 4 
a NOVA 4 How to spot Iron oxides and iron hydroxides on a label
Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:
Related additives
Frequently asked questions
What foods contain Iron oxides and iron hydroxides?
In our database, Iron oxides and iron hydroxides most often appears in dietary supplements, meat analogues, vegetarian sausages and cheeses.
How many products contain Iron oxides and iron hydroxides?
1,141 published products on Foodmetria list Iron oxides and iron hydroxides, including 15 sold in the United States. Counts come from ingredient lists in Open Food Facts and update daily.
Product data: Open Food Facts (ODbL), updated daily. Additive information is for general education and is not medical advice. Always check the package label. Our methodology.