E-numbers: food additive guide
What the E-numbers on food labels mean: 251 additives from the EU list, grouped by what they do, with notes on allergens, vegan status and EU label warnings.
Colours
Adds or restores colour.
- E100Curcumin
- E101Riboflavin
- E102Tartrazine
- E104Quinoline Yellow
- E110Sunset Yellow FCF
- E120Cochineal, carminic acid, carmines
- E122Azorubine, carmoisine
- E123Amaranth
- E124Ponceau 4R, cochineal red A
- E127Erythrosine
- E129Allura Red AC
- E131Patent Blue V
- E132Indigotine, indigo carmine
- E133Brilliant Blue FCF
- E140Chlorophylls and chlorophyllins
- E141Copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins
- E142Green S
- E150aPlain caramel
- E150bCaustic sulphite caramel
- E150cAmmonia caramel
- E150dSulphite ammonia caramel
- E151Brilliant Black BN
- E153Vegetable carbon
- E155Brown HT
- E160aCarotenes
- E160bAnnatto, bixin, norbixin
- E160cPaprika extract, capsanthin, capsorubin
- E160dLycopene
- E160eBeta-apo-8'-carotenal
- E161bLutein
- E161gCanthaxanthin
- E162Beetroot red, betanin
- E163Anthocyanins
- E170Calcium carbonate
- E171Titanium dioxide
- E172Iron oxides and hydroxides
- E173Aluminium
- E174Silver
- E175Gold
- E180Litholrubine BK
- E579Ferrous gluconate
- E585Ferrous lactate
Preservatives
Protects against spoilage by microbes.
- E200Sorbic acid
- E202Potassium sorbate
- E203Calcium sorbate
- E210Benzoic acid
- E211Sodium benzoate
- E212Potassium benzoate
- E213Calcium benzoate
- E214Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate
- E215Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate
- E218Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
- E219Sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate
- E220Sulphur dioxide
- E221Sodium sulphite
- E222Sodium hydrogen sulphite
- E223Sodium metabisulphite
- E224Potassium metabisulphite
- E226Calcium sulphite
- E227Calcium hydrogen sulphite
- E228Potassium hydrogen sulphite
- E234Nisin
- E235Natamycin
- E239Hexamethylene tetramine
- E242Dimethyl dicarbonate
- E249Potassium nitrite
- E250Sodium nitrite
- E251Sodium nitrate
- E252Potassium nitrate
- E280Propionic acid
- E281Sodium propionate
- E282Calcium propionate
- E283Potassium propionate
- E284Boric acid
- E285Sodium tetraborate (borax)
- E1105Lysozyme
Antioxidants
Slows oxidation, such as fats going rancid.
- E300Ascorbic acid
- E301Sodium ascorbate
- E302Calcium ascorbate
- E304Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid (ascorbyl palmitate)
- E306Tocopherol-rich extract
- E307Alpha-tocopherol
- E308Gamma-tocopherol
- E309Delta-tocopherol
- E310Propyl gallate
- E315Erythorbic acid
- E316Sodium erythorbate
- E319Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)
- E320Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
- E321Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
- E392Extracts of rosemary
Acids
Adds sourness.
Acidity regulators
Controls acidity or alkalinity.
- E261Potassium acetate
- E262Sodium acetates
- E263Calcium acetate
- E325Sodium lactate
- E326Potassium lactate
- E327Calcium lactate
- E331Sodium citrates
- E332Potassium citrates
- E333Calcium citrates
- E335Sodium tartrates
- E336Potassium tartrates
- E339Sodium phosphates
- E340Potassium phosphates
- E341Calcium phosphates
- E350Sodium malates
- E352Calcium malates
- E501Potassium carbonates
- E524Sodium hydroxide
- E525Potassium hydroxide
- E526Calcium hydroxide
- E529Calcium oxide
- E575Glucono-delta-lactone
Thickeners
Makes food thicker.
- E400Alginic acid
- E401Sodium alginate
- E402Potassium alginate
- E403Ammonium alginate
- E404Calcium alginate
- E405Propane-1,2-diol alginate
- E407Carrageenan
- E407aProcessed eucheuma seaweed
- E410Locust bean gum
- E412Guar gum
- E413Tragacanth
- E414Acacia gum (gum arabic)
- E415Xanthan gum
- E416Karaya gum
- E417Tara gum
- E425Konjac
- E461Methyl cellulose
- E463Hydroxypropyl cellulose
- E464Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
- E465Ethyl methyl cellulose
- E466Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum
- E469Enzymatically hydrolysed carboxy methyl cellulose
Stabilisers
Keeps a mixture even and stable.
Emulsifiers
Keeps oil and water mixed.
- E322Lecithins
- E432Polysorbate 20
- E433Polysorbate 80
- E434Polysorbate 40
- E435Polysorbate 60
- E436Polysorbate 65
- E442Ammonium phosphatides
- E445Glycerol esters of wood rosins
- E470aSodium, potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids
- E470bMagnesium salts of fatty acids
- E471Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E472aAcetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E472bLactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E472cCitric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E472eMono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E473Sucrose esters of fatty acids
- E474Sucroglycerides
- E475Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids
- E476Polyglycerol polyricinoleate
- E477Propane-1,2-diol esters of fatty acids
- E481Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate
- E482Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate
- E491Sorbitan monostearate
- E492Sorbitan tristearate
Gelling agents
Sets food into a gel.
Raising agents
Releases gas so dough rises.
Anti-caking agents
Stops powders sticking together.
Flavour enhancers
Strengthens existing taste.
Sweeteners
Adds sweetness, often with few or no calories.
Glazing agents
Gives a shiny or protective coating.
Humectants
Stops food drying out.
Flour treatment agents
Improves the baking quality of flour or dough.
Firming agents
Keeps fruit and vegetables firm.
Packaging gases
Fills packs to keep food fresh.
Propellants
Pushes food out of a spray can.
Foaming agents
Helps form or keep a foam.
Bulking agents
Adds volume without much energy.
Modified starches
Starch treated to change how it thickens.
- E1404Oxidised starch
- E1410Monostarch phosphate
- E1412Distarch phosphate
- E1413Phosphated distarch phosphate
- E1414Acetylated distarch phosphate
- E1420Acetylated starch
- E1422Acetylated distarch adipate
- E1440Hydroxy propyl starch
- E1442Hydroxy propyl distarch phosphate
- E1450Starch sodium octenyl succinate
- E1451Acetylated oxidised starch
Carriers
Carries or dissolves another additive or flavour.
Anti-foaming agents
Stops foam forming.
IngrediLens reads the ingredient list on a food or cosmetic label and points out what matches your allergens and diet. Everything stays on your iPhone.
Get IngrediLens on the App StoreInformation only, not medical advice. Always read the physical label. Source: EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 Annex II.