Encyclopedia

Food additives encyclopedia

50 E-numbers decoded, classified by EFSA + ANSES risk level. Learn what each additive is, whether it is controversial, and which products of our catalog contain it.

15

High risk

19

Medium risk

16

Low risk

28

Controversial

8

EU restricted

Most common additives in our catalog

The E-numbers detected most often across the 735+ products we have decoded so far. Click to read the full risk profile.

E330 Citric Acid (44×) E500 Sodium Carbonates (43×) E440 Pectin (36×) E955 Sucralose (36×) E471 Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids (27×) E422 Glycerol (24×) E412 Guar Gum (20×) E420 Sorbitol (20×)

High risk

15 additives

E102

Tartrazine

colourant

Controversial 1 product

E104

Quinoline Yellow

colourant

Controversial

E110

Sunset Yellow FCF

colourant

Controversial 2 products

E122

Azorubine / Carmoisine

colourant

Controversial

E124

Ponceau 4R

colourant

Controversial 1 product

E129

Allura Red AC

colourant

Controversial

E171

Titanium Dioxide

colourant

Controversial 1 product

E249

Potassium Nitrite

preservative

Controversial

E250

Sodium Nitrite

preservative

Controversial

E251

Sodium Nitrate

preservative

Controversial

E252

Potassium Nitrate

preservative

Controversial

E320

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)

antioxidant

Controversial

E321

Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

antioxidant

Controversial

E951

Aspartame

sweetener

Controversial 5 products

E952

Cyclamate

sweetener

Controversial 1 product

Medium risk

19 additives

E120

Cochineal / Carmine

colourant

19 products

E150c

Ammonia Caramel

colourant

Controversial

E150d

Sulphite Ammonia Caramel

colourant

Controversial 1 product

E211

Sodium Benzoate

preservative

Controversial 2 products

E220

Sulphur Dioxide

preservative

3 products

E407

Carrageenan

thickener

Controversial 8 products

E450

Diphosphates

emulsifier

Controversial 1 product

E451

Triphosphates

emulsifier

Controversial

E452

Polyphosphates

emulsifier

Controversial 1 product

E466

Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose

thickener

Controversial 6 products

E471

Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids

emulsifier

Controversial 27 products

E472e

Mono-diglyceride Esters (DATEM)

emulsifier

E621

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

flavour enhancer

Controversial

E631

Disodium Inosinate

flavour enhancer

E635

Disodium Ribonucleotides

flavour enhancer

E950

Acesulfame K

sweetener

Controversial 17 products

E955

Sucralose

sweetener

Controversial 36 products

E961

Neotame

sweetener

E968

Erythritol

sweetener

Controversial

Low risk

16 additives

E100

Curcumin

colourant

3 products

E150a

Plain Caramel

colourant

1 product

E1520

Propylene Glycol

humectant

E200

Sorbic Acid

preservative

E300

Ascorbic Acid

antioxidant

8 products

E330

Citric Acid

acidulant

44 products

E412

Guar Gum

thickener

20 products

E415

Xanthan Gum

thickener

10 products

E420

Sorbitol

sweetener

20 products

E422

Glycerol

humectant

24 products

E440

Pectin

gelling agent

36 products

E500

Sodium Carbonates

raising agent

43 products

E953

Isomalt

sweetener

4 products

E960

Steviol Glycosides

sweetener

13 products

E965

Maltitol

sweetener

18 products

E967

Xylitol

sweetener

2 products