Lithol Rubine BK
Lithol Rubine BK, identified in permitted markets as E180, is a synthetic red azo colour used in very specific food-colour applications, most notably cheese-rind or cheese-surface colouring where local regulations allow it. It is not a broad-use colour for beverages, confectionery, dairy desserts, sauces or snacks unless the destination market explicitly permits the intended application. This page is prepared as an industrial sourcing guide for specification review, shade matching, regulatory screening, contaminant verification, documentation collection and quotation requests.
Product identity
| Product | Lithol Rubine BK |
|---|---|
| Common names | Litholrubine BK, Pigment Rubine, Brilliant Carmine 6B, C.I. Pigment Red 57:1, C.I. 15850:1 |
| Category | Colours & Colouring Foods |
| Colour family | Synthetic red azo colour / pigment; reddish to ruby-red shade depending on grade, concentration, coating system and substrate |
| Function | Regulated red food colour for specific cheese-rind or cheese-surface applications where permitted; colour standardisation and visual identity support |
| E / INS number | E180 where permitted and applicable |
| CAS / identity | 5281-04-9 |
| Typical chemical form | Usually supplied as a calcium salt pigment or standardized colour preparation; exact identity must be confirmed by supplier specification and COA |
| Typical form | Red powder, pigment powder, standardized colour preparation, dispersion or application-specific cheese-coating colour system |
| Industrial buying focus | Regulatory suitability, food-category permission, colour strength, shade, purity, subsidiary colourants, aromatic amine controls, heavy metals, insoluble matter, particle size, dispersion behaviour, packaging, traceability and destination-market documents |
Application fit
Lithol Rubine BK should be evaluated only for applications where the destination market and the final food category permit E180. It is normally discussed for colour-standardised cheese-surface systems rather than general internal food colouring.
- Cheese rind colour systems where E180 is permitted
- Cheese-surface coatings, waxes or rind treatments subject to local rules
- Industrial cheese identity and shade-standardisation programs
- Ruby-red to red surface colour development in approved cheese applications
- Colour matching against existing cheese-rind coating specifications
- Export-oriented cheese products requiring market-specific compliance review
- Supplier qualification for certified food-grade E180 colour preparations
Technical purchasing notes
When reviewing Lithol Rubine BK, compare the supplier specification against the intended cheese application, coating base, target shade, permitted use level, migration expectations, label requirements and destination-market rules. For industrial purchasing, the most useful inquiry includes the target food category, required colour shade, current reference standard, required colour strength, physical form, packaging size, quantity, destination and documentation requirements.
Unlike many water-soluble food colours, Lithol Rubine BK may be supplied as a pigment-style material or standardized preparation. Its performance depends on particle size, dispersion quality, compatibility with wax, rind coating or surface-treatment systems, mixing shear, coating thickness, substrate colour and storage conditions. Buyers should validate the colour in the actual cheese surface system rather than relying only on powder appearance.
Specification parameters to compare
| Parameter | Why it matters industrially | What to request from supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory identity | Confirms that the supplied material is food-grade Lithol Rubine BK / E180 and not a non-food industrial pigment or cosmetic-only colour. | E180 declaration, food-grade statement, CAS 5281-04-9 identity confirmation and destination-market compliance statement. |
| Permitted application | E180 is not a general-use colour. Incorrect application can create serious regulatory, recall and export risks. | Food-category permission, intended-use statement, use-level guidance and market-specific declaration. |
| Colour strength | Colour strength determines dosage, coating cost, shade repeatability and batch-to-batch standardisation. | Colour strength value, absorbance method, reference standard and lot-specific COA result. |
| Shade / hue | Cheese-rind colour programs often require consistent ruby-red, red or pink-red appearance across lots and production sites. | Shade standard, Lab values where available, drawdown or application panel, reference sample and tolerance range. |
| Purity / dye content | Purity affects regulatory compliance, dose calculation, colour performance and contaminant risk. | Purity value, dye or pigment content, analytical method and COA result. |
| Subsidiary dyes and by-products | Important for synthetic colour compliance, customer approval and lot-to-lot quality control. | Limits for subsidiary colourants, unreacted intermediates and relevant process by-products. |
| Unsulfonated aromatic amines | Azo colour manufacturing requires careful control of aromatic amine impurities for food-safety and compliance reasons. | Specification limits, analytical method and COA or declaration for relevant aromatic amines. |
| Heavy metals | Critical for food safety, customer specifications, import clearance and regulatory compliance. | Lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and other relevant elemental impurity limits with COA results where available. |
| Insoluble matter | Can affect dispersion, specking, filterability, coating smoothness and visible defects on cheese surfaces. | Insoluble matter limit, test method and particle contamination control statement. |
| Particle size | Controls dispersion quality, settling, coating uniformity, colour specks, surface smoothness and mixing time. | Particle size distribution, mesh, median particle size or application dispersion data. |
| Moisture / volatile matter | Impacts flowability, caking, shelf life, weighing accuracy and warehouse handling. | Moisture or loss-on-drying limit, typical value and packaging barrier information. |
| Solubility / dispersion behaviour | Important for selecting the correct preparation method in cheese coating, wax or surface-treatment systems. | Recommended dispersion medium, mixing method, shear requirement, pre-dispersion guidance and compatibility notes. |
| Microbiological status | Although dry synthetic colours often have low water activity, food manufacturers may still require microbiological data for supplier approval. | Total plate count, yeast and mould, coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella or a microbiological suitability statement where applicable. |
| Batch traceability | Essential for supplier approval, audits, complaint handling, export documentation and recall systems. | Lot number, production date, expiry or retest date, manufacturer name, origin and packing list. |
Application guidance by industry
| Application area | Technical role | Key validation points |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese rind colour programs | Provides controlled red to ruby-red visual identity on cheese rind or surface systems where permitted. | Regulatory approval, coating type, colour dosage, surface coverage, rind interaction, shade target, drying profile and storage stability. |
| Cheese coating and wax systems | May be used in permitted surface-coating systems to standardise colour and improve visual recognition. | Wax or coating compatibility, dispersion method, settling, heat exposure, colour uniformity, rub-off and migration review. |
| Export cheese manufacturing | Supports country-specific cheese colour requirements only where the destination market permits E180 in the relevant food category. | Destination-country rules, label wording, customer specification, certificate requirements, use level and border-document expectations. |
| Private-label cheese products | Allows controlled shade matching against a customer-approved colour standard. | Approved reference sample, Lab values, production tolerance, supplier continuity, lot-to-lot colour strength and shelf-life shade drift. |
| Cheese surface quality control | Helps standardise visual appearance across batches, lines and factories when the colour system is properly controlled. | Application equipment, coating thickness, surface moisture, drying time, storage humidity and packaging contact. |
| Regulatory replacement projects | May be reviewed when reformulating from or to another cheese-rind colour system in a specific market. | Permitted alternatives, colour match, label impact, supplier declarations, customer acceptance and comparative stability. |
Processing and formulation considerations
- Confirm permission before trials. Verify that E180 is permitted for the exact cheese type, surface application, destination market and customer program before requesting samples.
- Use only food-grade material. Lithol Rubine BK also appears in non-food pigment contexts. Do not use industrial pigment, printing, plastics, textile, cosmetic or uncertified material in food production.
- Pre-disperse correctly. Use the supplier’s recommended dispersion medium and shear profile. Poor dispersion can create specks, streaking, settling or uneven rind colour.
- Control dosage and coating thickness. Final shade depends on colour strength, pigment dispersion, coating solids, application rate, rind colour, surface moisture and drying conditions.
- Validate processing temperature. If used in wax, hot coating or heated surface systems, test colour stability, dispersion stability and shade after the real production temperature profile.
- Check migration and rub-off. Evaluate whether colour transfers to packaging, handling equipment, gloves, cutting surfaces or adjacent cheese surfaces.
- Run shelf-life shade testing. Compare colour after ripening, cold storage, humidity exposure, retail display, packaging contact and export transport.
- Maintain traceable retain samples. Keep approved colour standards and batch retain samples to investigate shade variation and support customer audits.
For R&D teams
Test Lithol Rubine BK only in the permitted target application. Compare shade, dispersion, coating compatibility, colour strength, drying behaviour, rub-off, migration, packaging contact, shelf-life shade stability and replacement alternatives where required.
For QA teams
Build an approval file covering E180 status, CAS identity, food-grade declaration, intended-use statement, COA format, purity, subsidiary dyes, aromatic amines, heavy metals, microbiology where required, allergens, GMO status and traceability.
For procurement teams
Compare offers by regulatory suitability, grade, colour strength, shade consistency, documentation quality, minimum order quantity, lead time, packaging, shelf life, origin, supplier continuity and total cost per finished cheese unit.
For production teams
Confirm weighing accuracy, dust control, dispersion method, mixing shear, coating addition point, surface application method, drying conditions, line cleaning, PPE and colour-changeover procedure before scale-up.
Quality-control and incoming inspection
A practical incoming inspection plan for Lithol Rubine BK should include document review, packaging inspection, lot number verification, appearance check, shade comparison, colour-strength review and, where required, a small coating application test against an approved reference. Because E180 is highly regulated, compliance documentation is as important as colour performance.
- Document check: confirm food-grade declaration, E180 statement, CAS identity, intended-use statement and destination-market documentation.
- Visual check: confirm expected red powder appearance, absence of foreign matter, caking, moisture damage and packaging defects.
- Shade check: compare powder and application drawdown against the approved standard or customer reference.
- Dispersion check: evaluate wetting, specking, settling, streaking and coating uniformity in the intended medium.
- Purity check: review COA values for colour content, subsidiary dyes, aromatic amines, heavy metals and insoluble matter.
- Application check: test colour on the actual cheese rind, coating or wax system before approving a new supplier or lot.
Recommended documentation package
A complete industrial sourcing file for Lithol Rubine BK should support supplier approval, regulatory review, import clearance, customer documentation and batch release.
- Product specification or technical data sheet
- Certificate of analysis for offered batch or representative lot
- Food-grade declaration
- E180 regulatory statement where applicable
- CAS 5281-04-9 identity confirmation
- Intended-use statement for permitted cheese-rind or cheese-surface applications
- Destination-market compliance statement
- Colour strength and shade data
- Purity or dye/pigment content result
- Subsidiary colourants statement
- Unsulfonated aromatic amines statement
- Heavy metals and elemental impurity statement
- Insoluble matter and particle-size data
- Residual salts or manufacturing impurity statement where available
- Microbiological specification where required
- Safety data sheet where applicable
- Allergen declaration
- GMO statement
- Halal certificate where required
- Kosher certificate where required
- Vegan or vegetarian statement when needed
- Origin and manufacturer statement
- Shelf-life and storage recommendation
- Label draft and packaging details
- Pallet configuration and net/gross weight
- Country-of-origin and export documentation
Storage, handling and packaging
Lithol Rubine BK should be stored in original sealed packaging in a clean, dry, cool and well-ventilated warehouse. Protect the product from moisture, direct sunlight, excessive heat, dust, pests and strong odour sources. Colour powders should be handled carefully to avoid dusting, cross-contamination and staining of equipment, floors, uniforms or adjacent ingredients.
Typical packaging may include sealed bags, foil-lined bags, cartons, drums, jars, pails or palletized export units depending on grade and supplier. For industrial shipments, buyers should confirm net weight, inner liner, tamper seal, light and moisture protection, batch coding, shelf life at dispatch, pallet dimensions, container loading quantity and any transport or customs documentation required by the destination market.
How to request this product
Send the product name, target grade, exact intended application, destination country, current reference specification, required shade, quantity, packaging preference, expected shipment date and required documents. If you already purchase Lithol Rubine BK, attach your current specification, certificate of analysis, label, colour standard or application photo so supplier options can be compared more accurately.
Recommended inquiry details
- Product identity: Lithol Rubine BK, Litholrubine BK, E180, C.I. Pigment Red 57:1 or the exact name used in your current specification.
- Application: cheese rind, cheese surface coating, cheese wax, cheese colour standardisation or another application with documented market permission.
- Required grade: food-grade powder, standardized pigment preparation, dispersion, cheese-coating colour system or customer-specified grade.
- Regulatory target: destination country, cheese category, label wording, maximum use level, customer standard and required declarations.
- Specification target: colour strength, shade, purity, particle size, heavy metals, subsidiary dyes, aromatic amines, moisture and insoluble matter.
- Quantity: laboratory sample, pilot order, monthly demand, annual contract or container volume.
- Destination: country, port, Incoterms, required import documents and delivery schedule.
- Compliance needs: E180 declaration, halal, kosher, allergen, GMO, vegan, origin, contaminant, microbiology or customer-specific declarations.
Useful answers
What is Lithol Rubine BK used for in food manufacturing?
Lithol Rubine BK is a synthetic red azo colour associated with E180. In food manufacturing, it is mainly discussed for cheese-rind or cheese-surface colouring where the destination market specifically permits that use.
Is Lithol Rubine BK suitable for general food colouring?
No. It should not be treated as a general-purpose colour for beverages, confectionery, desserts, sauces or snacks. The buyer must verify the exact permitted food category and local rules before use.
Is Lithol Rubine BK natural?
No. Lithol Rubine BK is a synthetic azo colour. If the finished product requires natural-colour positioning, clean-label colouring or colouring-food status, another colour system may be more appropriate.
Why is documentation especially important for E180?
E180 is highly restricted by application and market. Buyers should request food-grade status, intended-use statement, regulatory declaration, purity data, contaminant data, label support and batch traceability before purchase.
Which specification parameters are most important?
Key parameters include colour strength, shade, identity, purity, dye or pigment content, subsidiary dyes, unsulfonated aromatic amines, heavy metals, insoluble matter, particle size, moisture, microbial status where required, shelf life and batch traceability.
Can Global Food Additives source Lithol Rubine BK?
Global Food Additives can review sourcing options for Lithol Rubine BK according to target specification, intended application, destination country, quantity, packaging preference, shipment schedule and documentation requirements.
Which documents should be requested?
Buyers commonly request a technical data sheet, certificate of analysis, food-grade declaration, E180 statement where applicable, CAS identity confirmation, intended-use statement, destination-market declaration, heavy metals data, aromatic amines statement, allergen declaration, GMO statement, shelf-life information, label details and packing list.
Is this product permitted in every country?
No. Lithol Rubine BK / E180 is subject to strict market-specific rules. Food additive use depends on destination-market approval, exact food category, maximum use level, label requirements and buyer responsibility.
What information should I send for a quotation?
Send the product name, grade, intended cheese application, destination country, required shade, reference specification, quantity, packaging preference, Incoterms, expected shipment date and required documents. Sharing an existing COA or supplier specification helps compare alternatives faster.
Tell us which food additive or ingredient you need.
Send product names, target specifications, quantity, destination country, packaging preference, delivery term, and document requirements. Our team will review your inquiry and respond from orders@foodgradeadditives.com.
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