# Currant Juice, Black

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> Markdown URL: https://additivefacts.com/additives/currant-juice-black.md

**Safety rating:** SAFE
**CAS number:** 977038-70-2
**Category:** flavoring
**FDA GRAS:** no
**Adverse events (FDA AERS):** 0
**FDA recalls:** 0
**Last updated:** 2026-04-02

## Summary

Black currant juice is a natural flavoring agent derived from the fruit of Ribes nigrum. It is used in food and beverage products to impart the distinctive tart, fruity flavor characteristic of black currants.

## Regulatory status

| Country | Status |
| --- | --- |
| United States | approved |
| European Union | not_evaluated |
| United Kingdom | approved |
| Canada | approved |
| Australia | approved |
| Japan | not_evaluated |
| South Korea | not_evaluated |
| Brazil | not_evaluated |
| China | not_evaluated |
| India | not_evaluated |

## Detailed analysis

## What is Black Currant Juice?

Black currant juice is a liquid extract obtained from the berries of Ribes nigrum, a deciduous shrub native to Europe and Asia. The juice contains the naturally occurring flavor compounds responsible for the fruit's characteristic dark, tart taste profile. As a food additive, black currant juice functions as a flavoring agent, providing both taste and color to processed foods and beverages. The CAS number 977038-70-2 identifies this specific substance in chemical databases.

## Common Uses

Black currant juice is used primarily in the beverage industry, including juices, juice drinks, cordials, and flavored waters. It also appears in confectionery products such as candies, gums, and lozenges where its distinctive flavor is valued. The ingredient may be found in yogurts, dairy desserts, and other processed foods where berry flavoring is desired. In some European markets, black currant products are more prevalent than in North America, where currant cultivation has been less common due to historical restrictions on growing black currants.

## Safety Assessment

Black currant juice is a food-derived ingredient with a long history of consumption. The FDA's adverse events database contains zero reported adverse events associated with this ingredient, and no product recalls have been attributed to black currant juice. The ingredient does not appear on any FDA banned or restricted substances list.

As a naturally occurring juice from an edible fruit, black currant juice is generally recognized as safe by consumers and food safety authorities. The fruit itself has been consumed for centuries in Europe and Asia without significant safety concerns. Black currants are known to contain beneficial phytochemicals including anthocyanins, vitamin C, and gamma-linolenic acid, though the presence of these compounds in flavoring concentrations varies depending on processing methods.

Individuals with specific allergies to fruits or berries should note that black currant juice is derived from a plant source. Cross-reactivity with other plant allergens is theoretically possible for sensitive individuals, though true allergies to black currants are relatively uncommon.

## Regulatory Status

Black currant juice does not hold FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status, meaning it has not undergone the formal GRAS notification process. However, this does not indicate safety concerns; rather, it reflects that many traditional food ingredients and extracts have not pursued formal GRAS approval. The ingredient is permitted for use as a flavoring agent in food products under FDA regulations governing flavoring substances.

In the European Union, black currant juice and related currant extracts are authorized for use as flavoring agents. The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has evaluated various currant-derived ingredients and has not identified safety concerns at typical usage levels in food.

## Key Studies

While black currant juice itself has not been the subject of extensive toxicological studies as a food additive (reflecting its GRAS-exempt status and natural origin), research on black currants as whole fruit demonstrates a favorable safety profile. The fruit is well-established in traditional European cuisines and modern food science literature documents its phytochemical composition without identifying safety hazards.

Studies on black currant consumption have primarily focused on potential health benefits rather than safety assessment, with research exploring anthocyanin content and antioxidant properties. The absence of adverse event reports and recalls, combined with its long history of food use, supports the safety profile of black currant juice as a flavoring ingredient at typical inclusion levels in food products.

## Sources

- FDA Substances Added to Food (CFSAN)
- OpenFDA Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS)
- OpenFDA Food Recalls
- EFSA OpenFoodTox
- EU Food Additive Portal

## Citation

Additive Facts. "Currant Juice, Black — Safety, regulation, and evidence." https://additivefacts.com/additives/currant-juice-black. Accessed 2026-05-19.