Is ci 77491 vegan?

CI 77491 is the Colour Index identifier for red iron oxide, an inorganic pigment also designated as E172 in food additive systems. It provides a red to reddish-brown coloration. Although iron oxides occur naturally as the mineral hematite, the grades utilized in food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care are synthesized industrially through the controlled oxidation of iron or the thermal decomposition of iron salts to guarantee purity and eliminate heavy metal impurities.

Manufacturers list CI 77491 in a variety of items, including hard candies, cake decorations, processed snacks, dietary supplement capsules, and pharmaceutical tablet coatings, as well as cosmetic products such as foundations and lipsticks.

This ingredient is vegan because it is derived exclusively from mineral and synthetic origins. Its synthesis involves inorganic chemical reactions between iron compounds and oxygen, with no animal tissues, byproducts, or animal-derived processing aids used during production.